# anyhow

/ˈɛniˌhaʊ/ (US) · /ˈɛnɪhˌaʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anyhow
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. in any case

adverb · CEFR B1

you use this to return to the main point of a story or to say that something is true no matter what.

For teachers: used as a discourse marker to resume a main narrative thread after a digression or to indicate that a statement is true regardless of other factors.

- It was a long and boring meeting, but anyhow, we finally finished the report.
- The technical details are somewhat disputed; anyhow, the primary objective of the mission was successfully achieved despite the initial setbacks.

### 2. carelessly

adverb · CEFR C1 · Literary

in a way that is messy, random, or not careful.

For teachers: in a careless, haphazard, or disorderly manner; lacking systematic attention to detail.

- The books were piled anyhow on the floor, making it hard to walk.
- The evidence had been gathered anyhow, with little regard for the strict protocols required for a formal forensic investigation.

### 3. thoughtlessly

adverb · CEFR C2 · Dialect

to do something without thinking or for no good reason.

For teachers: to act without due consideration, purpose, or care; frequently used to describe impulsive or irresponsible behavior.

- Don't anyhow park your car here or you will get a fine.
- He was criticized for anyhow making promises to the clients that the production team could not possibly fulfill on such a tight schedule.

Usage: Commonly used in Singaporean English (Singlish) to describe acting without thinking.

Teaching tip: This specific usage is highly characteristic of Southeast Asian dialects; outside of these regions, it may sound non-standard or archaic.

### 4. disorderly

adjective · CEFR C2 · Dialect

describes something that is messy or done without a plan.

For teachers: predicative adjective describing a state of disorder, randomness, or lack of consideration.

- His work is very anyhow, so he often has to do it again.
- The management style in that department is quite anyhow, leading to significant confusion among the junior staff members.

Usage: Used as a predicative adjective, typically following a linking verb.

## Examples

- It was raining, but we went out anyhow.
- The meeting was delayed twice, but we started the presentation anyhow.
- Though the initial data seemed contradictory, the researchers proceeded with the experiment anyhow, trusting their methodology to reveal the underlying pattern.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.