anybody
- 01 A2 Elementary
pron.any person at all, used mostly in questions or with 'not'.
pron.refers to an unspecified person; functions as a singular pronoun and is typically used in negative or interrogative clauses.
Simple“I didn't see anybody I knew at the party last night.”
In context“The manager asked if anybody had witnessed the incident, but the staff remained silent as they were unsure of the details.”
UsageTakes a singular verb, but is often referred to by plural pronouns like 'they' or 'them'.
PitfallIs anybody here? They is waiting. Is anybody here? They are waiting.While 'anybody' takes a singular verb like 'is', the pronoun used to refer back to it is usually the plural 'they'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is important, famous, or successful.
n.a person of social standing, importance, or significant reputation.
Simple“You have to dress well if you want to be anybody in this town.”
In context“In that exclusive social circle, you weren't considered anybody unless you owned a home in the city and a villa by the coast.”
UsageUsually used in the predicate after the verb 'to be'.
From Middle English ani-bodi, anybodi, eny body, equivalent to any + body.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.