anyone
Americanpronoun
pronoun
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any person; anybody
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(used with a negative or a question) a person of any importance
is he anyone in this town?
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(often preceded by just) any person at random; no matter who
Spelling
Anyone as a pronoun meaning “anybody” or “any person at all” is written as one word: Does anyone have the correct time? The two-word phrase any one means “any single member of a group of persons or things” and is often followed by of: Can any one of the members type? Any one of these books is exciting reading. Anyone is somewhat more formal than anybody.
Usage
See each, they ( def. ).
Etymology
Origin of anyone
First recorded in 1350–1400, anyone is from Middle English ani on. See any, one
Compare meaning
How does anyone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
This is a matinee coffee film, not a popcorn feature, lest anyone expect edge-of-your-seat tension.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
"You know your body better than anyone," she said.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Mike Ditka, who died on Friday at age 86, took a football life as far as anyone ever has.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
"This is the first step, but it is a big step -- it is the first time anyone has ever demonstrated that plasma-filament antennas can work," says Darshni.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Hanging out with the cook guy or anyone else we work with? Voluntarily listening to bad music while swatting at black flies?”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
