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. anything but
   by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. like anything
   (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 but, in no degree or respect; not in the least:

   The plans were anything but definite.

2. 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!

More idioms and phrases containing anything

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

Example Sentences

But more than anything he had come to hate Hispanic migrants, who had turned his overwhelmingly white town into a nearly-half ethnic one.

From Salon

But why am I listening to Toobin say anything?

From Salon

He has unlimited immunity for anything that falls under that enormous umbrella.

From Salon

Perhaps more than anything, “Say Anything” captures the ideological fervor that often characterizes the very young: Marian was only 17 when many of the events in the series take place, and Dolours barely in her 20s.

From Los Angeles Times

“In the attention economy … anything that gives you an advantage in terms of differentiating yourself,” Perren said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all
• everything