anyone
pron.any person at all. You use this in questions or negative sentences when the specific person does not matter.
pron.any person of an unspecified group. Functions as an indefinite pronoun; typically used in interrogative and negative clauses, or in affirmative clauses to imply 'no matter who'.
“Does anyone have a pen?”
“I didn't see anyone I knew at the party, so I left early.”
“The competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter, regardless of their previous experience or professional standing in the industry.”
Takes a singular verb even when referring to multiple people. In formal writing, 'anyone' is preferred over 'anybody', though they are semantically identical.
As an indefinite pronoun, it requires a singular verb form.
Usage anyone else · anyone ever · anyone trying
From Middle English eny on, ony one, equivalent to any + one.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.