ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anyways

adv.
US //ˈɛniˌweɪz// UK //ˈɛnɪwˌeɪz// any·ways
  1. 1 changing the subject (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal American English

    you use this to move to a new topic or to get back to a story after a break.

    a discourse marker used to transition between topics or to resume a narrative thread after a digression.

    Example

    Anyways, as I was saying before the phone rang, we should go.

    Example

    Anyways, the point is that we cannot afford to delay the launch any longer regardless of the minor bugs.

    Usage

    Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence to signal a shift in conversation.

    Teacher's tip

    This form is very common in spoken North American English but is often considered non-standard or incorrect in formal writing.
    Pitfall
    I will do it anyways.
    I will do it anyway.

    While 'anyways' is common in speech, 'anyway' is the correct form for formal writing and exams.

  2. 2 regardless (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Dialect

    used to say that something is true or will happen no matter what else is going on.

    used to indicate that a statement applies regardless of preceding circumstances or counter-arguments.

    Example

    It might rain later, but I'm going for a run anyways.

    Example

    The evidence against the theory was substantial, but the researchers decided to proceed with the experiment anyways.

    Usage

    Often placed at the end of a clause to dismiss a previous concern.

    Teacher's tip

    In this sense, it functions as a synonym for 'in any case'.
Origin

From any + adverbial genitive of way (compare always).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026