anything
anything
any·thing
/ˈɛniˌθıŋ/ pronoun
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 : something, 1
— 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]
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 if, 1
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]
