anyway

American  

[en-ee-wey] / ˈɛn iˌweɪ /

Nonstandard, anyways

adverb

1. in any case; anyhow; nonetheless; regardless.

   Whether you like it or not, I'm going anyway.

2. (used to continue or resume the thread of a story or account).

   Anyway, we finally found a plumber who could come right over.

---

anyway British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌweɪ /

adverb

1. in any case; at any rate; nevertheless; anyhow

2. in a careless or haphazard manner

3. Usually any way . in any manner; by any means

---

Spelling

The adverb anyway is spelled as one word: It was snowing hard, but we drove to the play anyway. The two-word phrase any way means “in any manner”: Finish the job any way you choose. If the words “in the” can be substituted for “any,” the two-word phrase is called for: Finish the job in the way you choose. If the substitution cannot be made, the spelling is anyway.

Etymology

Origin of anyway

First recorded in 1150–1200, anyway is from Middle English ani wei. See any, way ¹

Compare meaning

How does anyway compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anyhow vs. anyway

Example Sentences

“I was willing to pay a bit of a premium for using electricity over gas anyway.”

From Los Angeles Times

Referencing all the people he's worked with since, he reflected: "The music I made with Amy is the reason any of them know who I am anyway."

From BBC

“But he also has to make his assurances credible that if Iran agrees to U.S. demands, that the U.S. won’t attack Iran anyway.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kelly: When you were little, though, it probably wasn't something that she would have envisaged for her daughter anyway, was it?

From BBC

Some board members apparently had misgivings about Stern's appointment, given the lack of clarity about his background, according to a recent Daily Telegraph story, but the appointment was pushed through anyway.

From BBC

Related Words

• anyhow
• ever
• once