Meaning of the word anything

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• any thing (obsolete)

Pronunciation[edit]

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɛn.i.θɪŋ/
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): /ˈæ.ni.θɪŋ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɛ.nɪ.θɪŋ/, /ˈɛ.ni.θɪŋ/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈɛ.nə.θɪŋ/
• Hyphenation: an‧y‧thing

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English anything, enything, onything, from Late Old English aniþing, from earlier ǣniġ þing (literally “any thing”), equivalent to any +‎ thing.

Pronoun[edit]

anything

1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; a thing of any kind; something or other.

   Synonym: aught

   I would not do it for anything.

   • 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

     Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language […] his clerks […] understood him very well. If he had written a love letter, or a farce, or a ballade, or a story, no one, either clerks, or friends, or compositors, would have understood anything but a word here and a word there.

   • 2013 May 25, “No hiding place”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8837, page 74:

     In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result. If the bumf arrived electronically, the take-up rate was 0.1%. And for online adverts the “conversion” into sales was a minuscule 0.01%.

2. (with “as” or “like”) Expressing an indefinite comparison.

   • 1916, Edward S. Moffat, Go Forth and Find, page 81-82:

     Perhaps it was this atmosphere of misplacedness and loneliness as much as anything which led her to speak to him one evening in early summer when the office had closed.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

anything (plural anythings)

1. Someone or something of importance.

   • 1986, David Henry Hwang, M. Butterfly:

     How long does it take to turn you actors into good anythings?

   • 2007 May 6, Cindy Chupack, “An Ancient Coda to My 21st-Century Divorce”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     So we tried not to talk about first or second anythings until our meeting with the rabbi.

[edit]

Translations[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English anything, enything, onything, onythynge, from Old English ǣniġe þinga, ǣnġi þinga (literally “by any of things”), from ǣniġe, instrumental form of ǣniġ (“any”) + þinga, genitive plural of þing (“thing”).

Adverb[edit]

anything (not comparable)

1. In any way, any extent or any degree.

   That isn’t anything like a car.

   She’s not anything like as strong as me.

References[edit]

• anything in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams[edit]

• Thingyan

Even considering a single book, or the making of a pencil, or anything *anything* in our lives: consider everything lying behind it — does anyone seriously believe that this is an outcome of external forces and lumps that just happen to come together in something that is layered, absolutely slathered, in meaning? ❋ Unknown (2009)

And that ‘unusualness’ could be anything: beauty, ugliness, deformity, eccentricity…..anything. ❋ Unknown (2008)

I use the backside of a ladle when straining anything with a sieve and it works wonders with everything, gravy, custard, raspberries..anything at all. ❋ Unknown (2007)

I would have done anything for him… anything… because wether or not we could be… ❋ Ugotsoul (2003)

They are heated and air conditioned by a solar plant that tops anything — you hear me, _anything_ — that we have today. ❋ Simak, Clifford D., 1904-1988 (1952)

I will do anything — _anything_, HILDA, to provide you with agreeable entertainment. ❋ Various (N/A)

He may have done anything — _anything_ to get the ❋ Philip Verrill Mighels (N/A)

In the meantime, don’t be surprised at anything that happens, and by that I mean _anything_. ❋ Unknown (1927)

«Wiggs,» he said solemnly, «if ever you can do anything to annoy that woman, such as making her an apple-pie bed, or _anything_ like that, I wish you’d do it.» ❋ Charles Robinson (1919)

«Oh, if anything, anything, _anything_ would happen!» she breathed, stretching out both arms toward the snowy shrubbery-broken expanse behind the house which in summer was her garden. ❋ Frances [Illustrator] Rogers (1912)

«Oh, dear God!» she said aloud, «if I could only, only have the thing I want, I would take anything, _anything_ that might go with it and not complain!» ❋ Frances [Illustrator] Rogers (1912)

Well, I tell you I’d have turned up my hair, and run away and joined the ‘Waacs’ or the ‘Wrens’, or have driven a motor wagon or conducted a tramcar, or scrubbed floors at a hospital, or done anything — _anything_, I say! ❋ Angela Brazil (1907)

As he glanced, now and again, at the girl walking composedly by his side, he felt he would have given anything — _anything_ — to have known what was behind those candid hazel eyes, that broad white brow. ❋ Marie Belloc Lowndes (1907)

A man who backslides on a woman the way I’m goin ‘to oughta be shot, and if it was anything else — _anything_ — I’d keep it to myself. ❋ James Oliver Curwood (1903)

I’ll do anything — _anything_ else rather than that. ❋ Henry Kitchell Webster (1903)

Old folks can say anything, _anything_ they want to to _you_, but you can’t say a thing back to them — not a thing. ❋ Unknown (1894)

Would not anyone be justified in doing anything — yes, _anything_ — to escape from this fiend? ❋ David Graham Phillips (1889)

I’ll be anything you like, my darling — _anything_ — if only you’ll take me. ❋ David Graham Phillips (1889)

And, if so, he was resolved that _anything_ in reason which might be demanded — anything, in short, which should leave the party with the means of defending themselves and providing for their ultimate safety — should be granted. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)

But the offence to their national pride was quickly swamped by considerations of their own personal safety, and as one man they soon came to the conclusion that anything — yes, _anything_, even the humiliation of their king, was better than the sacrifice of their own lives and the destruction of their own property which would be involved in a retaliatory bombardment and sack of the town. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)

«[I’m up] for anything. Anal, oral, doggy style, etc.» «Anything you want, anal, oral, doggy style, etc.» «[Anything’s] fine. Anal, oral, doggy style.» «Anything you want. Chicken, fish, me under the table jerking you off while you order for me and explain how I will be [coming soon], etc.» ❋ Mr. F (2004)

[r/me_irl] [will] [upvote] anything. ❋ Goodyboyo (2018)

You’re an anything character…
[Toronto Maple Leafs]… [ha]… anything…
That club last night was anything…
The girl that was with [my buddy]… she was an anything ❋ Illusion8055 (2006)

Hey [can i] ask you anything or rather would you tell everything [if i] [asked]? ❋ Dia Spora (2020)

[Look up] [anything]!
Me: [OK]! ❋ Loamhari (2012)

[Connor]: I identify as a [attack helicopter]
[Lucas]: ANYTHING ❋ FlakerWithASkinnyP (2017)

Friend: [Boy] you look [ugly]
Me: [That’s anything] ❋ Wym? (2016)

Person 1: Please tell me what she said — I’ll trade you an anything.
Person 2: An anything, hey? I want you to [take me out] to dinner, then.
Person A: I’m so sorry that I forgot to pick you up. I’ll [make it up to you] — [I’ll do anything].
Person B: Sounds like a fair deal to me. ❋ Yanxa (2010)

Person 1: «He played a [fantastic game] yestyerday!»
Person 2: «[Yep], he is anything»
«[The party] I went to last night was A N Y T H I N G»
Person 1: «I heard what you did last night…»
Person 2: «Yehhhh.. I am anything.» ❋ #imanything (2013)

you’re [anything] ❋ CSM (2003)

что-нибудь, все, что-либо, что угодно, сколько-нибудь, в какой-либо мере

местоимение ↓

наречие ↓

Словосочетания

to be game for anything — быть готовым на все, ничего не бояться  
have you anything to do with it? — вы имеете к этому отношение?  
hardly anything — почти ничего  
anything goes — все сойдет  
in this case anything goes — в этом случае все сойдет /пройдет/  
run to any anything — пойти на что угодно  
an anything goes approach — нетребовательность; неразборчивость  
an anything goes attitude — нетребовательность; неразборчивость  
anything but satisfactory — совершенно неудовлетворительный  
anything goes approach — нетребовательность; неразборчивость  

Примеры с переводом

См. также в других словарях:

• Anything — may refer to:In music: * Anything (The Damned Album) and the title song * Anything (Kinnie Starr album), and the title song * Anything (Martina Topley Bird album), the U.S. version of Quixotic , and the song Anything * Anything (3T song) *… …   Wikipedia

• Anything — A ny*thing, n. 1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; thing of any kind; something or other; aught; as, I would not do it for anything. [1913 Webster] Did you ever know of anything so unlucky? A. Trollope. [1913 Webster] They do not… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• Anything — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Anything» Sencillo de Blue System del álbum Here I Am Publicación 10 de noviembre de 1997 Formato CD Maxi y video …   Wikipedia Español

• Anything (EP) — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Anything EP de The Cranberry Saw Us Publicación Enero de 1990 Grabación Grabado en los Xeric Studios, Limerick, Irlanda …   Wikipedia Español

• anything — [ən′ēthiŋ΄] pron. any object, event, fact, etc. [do you know anything about it?] n. a thing, no matter of what kind [do anything you want] adv. in any way; at all [is he anything like his father?] anything but by no means; not at all …   English World dictionary

• anything — ► PRONOUN ▪ a thing of any kind, no matter what. ● anything but Cf. ↑anything but …   English terms dictionary

• Anything — A ny*thing, adv. In any measure; anywise; at all. [1913 Webster] Mine old good will and hearty affection towards you is not . . . anything at all quailed. Robynson (More s Utopia). [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• anything — [n] unspecified object or event all, any one thing, anything at all, everything, whatever; concepts 2,433 …   New thesaurus

• anything — (n.) late O.E. aniþing, from ANY (Cf. any) + THING (Cf. thing). But O.E. ænig þinga apparently also meant somehow, anyhow (glossing L. quoquo modo) …   Etymology dictionary

• anything — an|y|thing [ eni,θıŋ ] pronoun *** 1. ) usually in negatives or questions used instead of something when saying or asking whether there is one thing or even a small amount of something: Do you know anything about baseball? He never does anything… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• anything — [[t]e̱nɪθɪŋ[/t]] ♦ 1) PRON INDEF: v PRON, oft PRON adj You use anything in statements with negative meaning to indicate in a general way that nothing is present or that an action or event does not or cannot happen. We can t do anything… Dad sat …   English dictionary

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I love ‘Breathless,’ and ‘Paris, Texas,’ and ‘Badlands.’ I was obsessed with those films in my teens. I remember watching ‘Badlands’ and being amazed that there were these scenes in which nobody said anything and the silence told the whole story.

Agyness Deyn

PRONUNCIATION OF ANYTHING

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ANYTHING

Anything can act as a noun, an adverb and a pronoun.

WHAT DOES ANYTHING MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of anything in the English dictionary

The first definition of anything in the dictionary is any object, event, action, etc, whatever. Other definition of anything is a thing of any kind. Anything is also in any way.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH ANYTHING

TRANSLATION OF ANYTHING

Find out the translation of anything to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «ANYTHING»

The term «anything» is very widely used and occupies the 1.345 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of anything

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «ANYTHING» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «ANYTHING»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word anything.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ANYTHING»

Discover the use of anything in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to anything and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ANYTHING»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term anything is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Anything [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/anything>. Apr 2023 ».