anyone
Americanpronoun
pronoun
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any person; anybody
-
(used with a negative or a question) a person of any importance
is he anyone in this town?
-
(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.
He said police were still investigating whether the shooter knew anyone at the school or had attended it at one point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
A 10-year Treasury yielding more than 5% starts looking awfully attractive to retirees, pension funds, insurers, foreign institutions and anyone else searching for dependable income.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s a unique form of torture that anyone who’s been to a fertility clinic will know all too well.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
The two-seater sports car did not have a driver for the demo "to make sure we don't kill anyone," he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Ask anyone and they’d tell you, because it was a fact.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
