anyone

[ en-ee-wuhn, -wuhn ]

pronoun

1. any person at all; anybody:

   Did anyone see the accident?

anyone

/ ˈɛnɪˌwʌn; -wən /

pronoun

1. any person; anybody
2. used with a negative or a question a person of any importance

   is he anyone in this town?

3. often preceded by just any person at random; no matter who

Usage Note

See each, they ( def ).

Spelling Note

Anyone as a pronoun meaning “anybody” or “any person at all” is written as one word: Does anyone have the correct time? The two-word phrase any one means “any single member of a group of persons or things” and is often followed by of: Can any one of the members type? Any one of these books is exciting reading. Anyone is somewhat more formal than anybody.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anyone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, anyone is from Middle English ani on. See any, one

Example Sentences

Ch Insp Paul Cash, from Northamptonshire Police, said: "I urge anyone listening to or reading this statement, that if you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us."

From BBC

"Anyone who wants to be the Archbishop of Canterbury absolutely needs their head reading," Bishop Rachel said.

From BBC

But she added it’s "just not right" that anyone has to turn to a food bank to survive.

From BBC

Prophesies are, of course, endemic to these sorts of stories, but they are a poor basis for governance and rarely do anyone any good.

From Los Angeles Times

“The tasks that many of them do that are involuntary are based on normal upkeep that anyone would do to maintain a facility.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all
• anybody
• everybody
• everyone
• one
• public
• you