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. anything but
   by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. like anything
   (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 but, in no degree or respect; not in the least:

   The plans were anything but definite.

2. 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!

More idioms and phrases containing anything

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

Example Sentences

If anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.

From The Daily Beast

Like many trans users, Transartist often gets used as a source of information more than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

Neither the Republican nor the Democratic party have done anything to consistently target Asian- American voters.

From The Daily Beast

But Krauss said that from the moment he and the other scientists arrived on the island, they never saw anything untoward.

From The Daily Beast

So I started to think about anything in my life that would be worth people giving it any amount of time.

From The Daily Beast

There was a rumor that Alessandro and his father had both died; but no one knew anything certainly.

From Project Gutenberg

As men fixed in the grip of nightmare, we were powerless—unable to do anything but wait.

From Project Gutenberg

He made me think of an old time magician more than anything, and I felt that with a touch of his wand he could transform us all.

From Project Gutenberg

Strathland would bundle me out in ten minutes if anything happened to Jack.

From Project Gutenberg

It is no good settling down in a world that, on its part, refuses to do anything of the sort.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• all
• everything