anywhere
Americanadverb
-
in, at, or to any place.
-
to any extent; to some degree.
Does my answer come anywhere near the right one?
noun
idioms
adverb
-
in, at, or to any place
-
to be successful
it took three years before he got anywhere
-
any quantity, time, degree, etc, above a specified limit
he could be anywhere from 40 to 50 years old
Spelling
See anyplace.
Etymology
Origin of anywhere
1350–1400; Middle English anywher ( e ), aniquar. See any, where
Explanation
The adverb anywhere means "in any location," or "wherever." If you're allowed to pitch your tent anywhere in the campground, it means you can choose any spot you like. When you say, "I can't find the cat anywhere!" it means you've looked every single place you can think of, and you still haven't located your pet. If you win the lottery, you may be overwhelmed by the idea that you can afford to travel anywhere — you can visit any country in the world. English speakers started saying anywhere in the 14th century; earlier, they said owhere or oughwhere.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to install, depending on the brand and the stairwell.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
More than two decades after the first satellite company was established there, the Scottish Government says more small satellites are built in Glasgow than anywhere else in Europe.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Access to weapons varies based on capability, a pocket knife can be purchased by anyone anywhere, firearms are restricted from certain groups, and missiles are only available to militaries and are meticulously accounted for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
The welcome screen at the ticket kiosks noted a “fare adjustment,” with no further information, and no signage appeared anywhere near the main entrance or inside the train depot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
I had never been anywhere but this village.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
