- used instead of something in negative sentences and in questions; after if/whether; and after verbs such as prevent, ban, avoid, etc.
- Would you like anything else?
- There's never anything worth watching on TV.
- If you remember anything at all, please let us know.
- We hope to prevent anything unpleasant from happening.
Definitions on the go
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- any thing at all, when it does not matter which
- I'm so hungry, I'll eat anything.
- any thing of importance
- Is there anything (= any truth) in these rumours?
Idioms
See anything in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee anything in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishanything but
- definitely not
- The hotel was anything but cheap.
- It wasn't cheap. Anything but.
anything like somebody/something
- (informal) (used in questions and negative statements) similar to somebody/something
- He isn't anything like my first boss.
as happy, quick, etc. as anything
- (informal) very happy, quick, etc.
- I felt as pleased as anything.
like anything
- (British English, informal) very much
- They're always slagging me off like anything.
not anything like as good, much, etc.
- used to emphasize that something is not as good, not enough, etc.
- The book wasn't anything like as good as her first one.
not for anything
- (informal) definitely not
- I wouldn't give it up for anything.
or anything
- (informal) or another thing of a similar type
- If you want to call a meeting or anything, just let me know.
Check pronunciation:
anything