any

American  

[en-ee] / ˈɛn i /

adjective

1. one, a, an, or some; one or more without specification or identification.

   If you have any witnesses, produce them. Pick out any six you like.

2. whatever or whichever it may be.

   cheap at any price.

3. in whatever quantity or number, great or small; some.

   Do you have any butter?

4. every; all.

   Any schoolboy would know that. Read any books you find on the subject.

5. (following a negative) at all.

   She can't endure any criticism.

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pronoun

1. an unspecified person or persons; anybody; anyone.

   He does better than any before him.

2. a single one or ones; an unspecified thing or things; a quantity or number.

   We don't have any left.

adverb

1. in whatever degree; to some extent; at all.

   Do you feel any better?

idioms

1. any which way, in any manner whatever; indifferently or carelessly.

   Doing your work any which way is just not good enough.

any British  

/ ˈɛnɪ /

determiner

1. 1. one, some, or several, as specified, no matter how much or many, what kind or quality, etc

      any cheese in the cupboard is yours

      you may take any clothes you like

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      take any you like

2. (usually used with a negative)

   1. even the smallest amount or even one

      I can't stand any noise

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      don't give her any

3. whatever or whichever; no matter what or which

   any dictionary will do

   any time of day

4. an indefinite or unlimited amount or number (esp in the phrases any amount or number )

   any number of friends

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adverb

1. (usually used with a negative)

   1. (foll by a comparative adjective) to even the smallest extent

      it isn't any worse now

   2. not_standard at all

      he doesn't care any

any More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing any

• at any rate
• by any means
• go to any length
• in any case
• under any (no) circumstances

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Commonly Confused

See some.

Etymology

Origin of any

First recorded before 950; Middle English eni, ani, Old English ǣnig ( Old English ān one + -ig -y ¹ )

Explanation

Use the word any when you're talking about every possible quantity of something — whether it's one, a few, or many. You might ask an ice cream truck driver, "Do you have any ice cream sandwiches?" Any refers to non-specific amounts of something, as when you ask your friend, "Do you have any advice about what movie I should see?" or you ask a bakery worker, "Do you have any chocolate croissants left?" It also means "at all," like when you complain, "That pep talk didn't make me feel any better." In Old English, the word was ænig, which meant both "any" and "anyone," or literally, "one-y."

Example Sentences

That was Ainsley’s chief gripe about him: “He said he cared. He said he listened. He didn’t mean any of it. He used me.”

From Salon • May 22, 2026

But any similarities ended there - Mis-Teeq had their own recognisable sound with a distinctly British flavour.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Has any noncinematic couple twirled three times when kissing in public?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

I was grateful for her advice, and though I tried the strategies she’d suggested, nothing I did made any difference.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay her back. I forgot to tell her I didn’t need any this week.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• all
• each
• either
• several