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. by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. (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 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!

2. anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.

   The plans were anything but definite.

More idioms and phrases containing anything

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

Example Sentences

Anything beyond the maximum 15% rate would be taxed at 20%.

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If anything, something closer to the opposite is likely to be true.

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"The quality of data and new findings we will make will exceed anything observed in the past 30 years."

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Now, she’s a mom on the edge, a woman resigned to life’s fringes, where she must tiptoe around live grenades so as not to make anything worse.

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And when women make such significant, life-altering decisions, expressing anything short of joy and gratitude is cause for shame.

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Related Words

• all 
• everything