anything

[en-ee-thing]

pronoun

1. any thing whatever; something, no matter what.

   Do you have anything for a toothache?

noun

1. a thing of any kind.

adverb

1. in any degree; to any extent; in any way; at all.

   Does it taste anything like chocolate?

anything

/ ˈɛnɪˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any object, event, action, etc, whatever

   anything might happen

noun

1. a thing of any kind

   have you anything to declare?

adverb

1. in any way

   he wasn't anything like his father

2. by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. (intensifier; usually euphemistic)

   he ran like anything

Word History and Origins

Origin of anything¹

before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. anything goes, any type of conduct, dress, speech, etc., is considered acceptable or valid or is likely to be encountered and tolerated.

   That resort is a place where anything goes!

2. anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.

   The plans were anything but definite.

More idioms and phrases containing anything

• can't do anything with
• if anything
• like anything
• not anything like

Example Sentences

If there had been anything like that, he said, “I’m quite sure I would have seen it.”

From Slate

Declaring him the loser of the debate and not worth listening to on anything ever again is exactly the kind of absolutism that has made the left so unpopular: There really is an impulse to excommunicate anyone who doesn’t toe an ever-moving party line.

From Slate

Anything above that threshold will be hit with a 27.5% duty.

From BBC

If anything, it’s the opposite: Women’s intelligence tends to be underestimated, especially by conservatives.

From Salon

And of course a skilled magician, like a technology executive pitching a product, can make an audience believe anything.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all 
• everything