Anything

/ˈɛniθɪŋ/

pronounBeginner🔥Very CommonPronoun
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

1

Whatever thing; any matter.

/ˈɛniθɪŋ/

pronounneutralBeginner
Pronoun

One thing or another; no matter what.

I didn't see anything unusual.

💡 Simply: Something, no matter what it is

More Examples

2

Is there anything wrong?

3

She would do anything for her children.

How It's Used

General Conversation

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Informal

"Anything goes at this party!"

Idioms & expressions

anything but

The opposite of; certainly not.

"The movie was anything but boring."

From Old English *ænig þing, literally "any thing". The word evolved through Middle English and maintained its core meaning of 'whatever thing'.

The use of 'anything' has remained consistent throughout history, primarily functioning as a pronoun emphasizing the lack of specification.

Memory tip

Think 'any' thing.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"any thing"

anything at allanything elseanything goesanything but

Common misspellings

anythnganytinganithing

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written