anyhow
Americanadverb
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in any way whatever.
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in any case; at all events.
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in a careless manner; haphazardly.
adverb
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in any case; at any rate
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in any manner or by any means whatever
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in a haphazard manner; carelessly
Etymology
Origin of anyhow
Compare meaning
How does anyhow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use the adverb anyhow to emphasize or support something you've just said. You might say, "I'm not going to bother studying those dates for history class — they're not going to be on the test anyhow." The word anyhow is usually just another way to say anyway. You could say, for example, "I won't be going for a run today, not if it's as hot as yesterday anyhow." Another way to use anyhow is to mean "in a haphazard way" or "randomly." Your mom might complain that people just toss things in the fridge anyhow. The word has been used in American English since the mid-1700s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most people can focus only for three or four hours at a stretch, anyhow, so trying to work for eight solid hours isn’t really an effective use of your attention span.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
The purpose of abolition is, in part, accountability for the crimes its agents and administrators have committed, but it would be a worthy and necessary goal anyhow.
From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026
Sherelle's prediction: I've got a friend who is a Palace fan so I was enjoying their good run, well until this week anyhow.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2025
In reality, we can’t just swap bodies to find out — but love beckons us to try anyhow.
From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024
It had to end, as always, and anyhow his arm ached and bled where the rock had struck it.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
