any·thing
Pronounced:
/ˈɛniˌθɪŋ/
Function:
pronounMeaning:
1 : a thing of any kind ▪ We were allowed to do anything we wanted to. ▪ If you're not sure what to say, just say anything that comes to mind. ▪ She didn't say anything at all. [=she said nothing at all] ▪ That dog will eat almost/nearly/practically/virtually anything. ▪ We didn't talk about anything much. ▪ The new stadium is spectacular. There's never been anything like it. ▪ She never does anything but complain. [=all she does is complain] ▪ I'll do anything I can to help. ▪ They were ready for anything (that might happen). ▪ You can't tell him anything about computers. He thinks he's an expert. ▪ I can't think of her as anything but a good friend. [=I can only think of her as a good friend] ▪ He'll do anything for a laugh. ▪ I'd do/give anything to see her again. ▪ He won't take anything from anyone. [=he won't allow anyone to mistreat him, to be rude to him, etc.] ▪ She ate hardly anything. [=she ate almost nothing] ▪ He said he was sorry, but that doesn't really mean anything. ▪ I don't have anything against them. [=I don't have any reason for disliking them] ▪ She thought it was funny but I didn't see anything funny about it. [=I didn't think it was funny at all] ▪ They've been doing everything and anything to finish on time. = They've been doing anything and everything to finish on time. ▪ The problems were caused by lack of time as much as anything. ▪ She dresses conservatively at work, but on the weekends, anything goes. [=anything is acceptable; there are no rules that have to be followed]
2 : 1something —used in questions ▪ Would you like anything else? ▪ Is there anything wrong? ▪ Is there anything (good/interesting) on TV tonight? ▪ (informal) Do you want some pretzels or anything? [=or a similar thing]
2 : 1something —used in questions ▪ Would you like anything else? ▪ Is there anything wrong? ▪ Is there anything (good/interesting) on TV tonight? ▪ (informal) Do you want some pretzels or anything? [=or a similar thing]
anything but
: not at all ▪ He looked anything but happy. [=he looked very unhappy] ▪ Though he said he was happy, he looked anything but (happy). ▪ This problem is anything but new.
anything like
1 : at all like —used in negative statements ▪ He doesn't look anything like his brother.
2 or anything near : in any way : at all —used in negative statements ▪ He doesn't look anything like his brother. ▪ The movie wasn't anything like/near what I expected it to be. [=the movie was completely different from what I expected it to be] ▪ We don't have anything like/near enough time. [=we don't have nearly enough time]
2 or anything near : in any way : at all —used in negative statements ▪ He doesn't look anything like his brother. ▪ The movie wasn't anything like/near what I expected it to be. [=the movie was completely different from what I expected it to be] ▪ We don't have anything like/near enough time. [=we don't have nearly enough time]
as anything
informal : as any person or thing —used to make a statement more forceful ▪ He was (as) calm as anything. [=he was very calm] ▪ It was as obvious as anything [=it was extremely obvious] that she didn't want to go.
for anything
: for any reason —used in negative statements ▪ I like my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything.
if anything —see 1if
like anything
informal : very much : very forcefully ▪ It was raining like anything. [=it was raining very hard] ▪ She was hoping like anything that the weather would be good.
more than anything
: very much : very badly ▪ I wanted to believe her more than anything [=I very much wanted to believe her], but I couldn't. ▪ More than anything (in the world), I'd like to visit Paris again. [=the thing I most want to do is to visit Paris again]