anyway

Nonstandard, an·y·ways

[en-ee-wey]

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

/ 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 Note

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anyway¹

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

Example Sentences

Pullbacks typically happen once or twice a year anyway, and may be unrelated to the midterms.

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"It's a struggle anyway, with everything that's going on with the cost of living," he says.

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But all the compensations, all the progress anyway.

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Let’s be honest, the turkey is the worst part of Thanksgiving anyway.

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"I don't know if she'll remember my name, but, anyway, it was pretty much a thrill to work with her."

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Related Words

• anyhow 
• ever 
• once