anything

American  

[en-ee-thing] / ˈɛn iˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any thing whatever; something, no matter what.

   Do you have anything for a toothache?

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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?

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.

anything British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any object, event, action, etc, whatever

   anything might happen

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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

anything More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing anything

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

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Etymology

Origin of anything

before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing ¹

Example Sentences

"It wasn't anything more than 'I reckon it's time we have got to find out how much your body can take before it breaks rather than stopping in case it breaks'."

From BBC

But no, I haven’t checked anything online.

From Los Angeles Times

When I was younger, I always felt this pressure — like interviewers would ask me, “Do you feel a personal connection? Anything personally close to the character?”

From Los Angeles Times

Anything beyond 162 is considered “extreme,” and the figure for that Tuesday was 268.

From Los Angeles Times

Yvonne raised her daughter to believe that she could achieve anything.

From BBC

Related Words

• all
• everything