# anything

/ˈɛniˌθɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɛnɪθˌɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anything
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. any thing at all

pronoun · CEFR A1

used to refer to a thing of any kind, especially in questions or with 'not'.

For teachers: an indefinite pronoun referring to any object, act, or state; functions as the non-assertive counterpart to 'something'.

- I didn't buy anything at the mall because everything was too expensive.
- The witness claimed she hadn't seen anything unusual during the hours leading up to the incident.

Usage: Commonly used in negative statements and questions.

### 2. no matter what

pronoun · CEFR A2

used to say that it does not matter which thing is chosen.

For teachers: used in affirmative clauses to indicate an open choice or lack of restriction regarding the object or act.

- You can have anything you want for your birthday dinner.
- The contract states that the tenant may not install anything on the walls without prior written consent from the landlord.

Usage: Often followed by a relative clause starting with 'that' or 'you'.

### 3. at all

adverb · CEFR B1

used to ask if something is even a little bit like something else.

For teachers: used as a degree adverb in questions or negative comparisons to mean 'at all' or 'to any extent'.

- Is your new phone anything like the old one?
- The final results were not anything like what the researchers had originally predicted.

Usage: Usually follows 'not' or appears in questions with 'like'.

### 4. something important

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a person or thing that is important.

For teachers: a person or thing of significant consequence or value.

- He wants to be anything in this company, even just a manager.
- After years of struggle, she finally felt she had become anything in the eyes of her peers.

## Examples

- I do not have anything in my bag.
- The waiter asks if the guests need anything else before he brings the bill to the table.
- The witness claimed she did not see anything unusual during the hour in question, despite the loud noises reported by several other residents in the building.

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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.