anything

American  

[en-ee-thing] / ˈɛn iˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any thing whatever; something, no matter what.

   Do you have anything for a toothache?

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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?

idioms

1. 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!

2. anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.

   The plans were anything but definite.

anything British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any object, event, action, etc, whatever

   anything might happen

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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. by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. (intensifier; usually euphemistic)

   he ran like anything

anything More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing anything

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

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Etymology

Origin of anything

before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing ¹

Example Sentences

But it summed up, without even trying, what a spectacularly new thing in history America was, because the meaning of the movie was the American promise: Anyone can come from anywhere and become anything.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

“Obviously we can’t say anything to confirm or deny the existence of a grand jury subpoena,” Wollman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Did anything in the report give you pause?

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

If anything, the jobs market has gotten stronger.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

But then I remember that I didn’t do anything wrong, and I try to focus on that.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• all
• everything