anything
Americanpronoun
noun
adverb
idioms
-
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!
-
anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.
The plans were anything but definite.
pronoun
noun
adverb
-
in any way
he wasn't anything like his father
-
by no means; not in the least
she was anything but happy
-
(intensifier; usually euphemistic)
he ran like anything
Etymology
Origin of anything
before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing 1
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.
"What I've been trying to look for are the small wins. Where can I get the biggest gain without changing or drastically shifting anything that they're already doing?"
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Some have tried to frame distillation as harmful, but I think it is important to protect the principle that you can learn from anything you can observe,” he writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Mary, given your familiarity with the work of Martin and “GOT,” what, if anything, can be done to make us care about where “House of the Dragon” goes in its final season?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
"I do post some hoarding videos but I've never had anything go this viral," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Just listening to music. There are legendary grandparents who dance to anything bluegrass or old-school country music.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
