ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anyways

adv. sent.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɛniˌweɪz// UK //ˈɛnɪwˌeɪz// any·ways Archaic Informal

adv. used to change the subject or go back to an earlier topic. It is a casual way to end a conversation or move on to something else.

adv. used to resume a narrative, change the subject, or dismiss a previous point. Informal in register; frequently used as a sentence-modifying disjunct to signal a transition in speech.


SIMPLE

It was a long day, but anyways, I'm home now.

CONTEXTUAL

The movie was way too long and the acting was poor; anyways, we decided to leave early and grab dinner.

COMPLEX

The technical details of the project are still being finalized by the engineering team, but anyways, the primary goal remains to launch by the third quarter.

Synonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Typically placed at the beginning or end of a sentence to signal a transition. In formal writing, 'anyway' is preferred over 'anyways'.

Pitfall

Anyways, I should go.Anyway, I should go.While common in casual speech, 'anyways' is considered non-standard or incorrect in formal writing; use 'anyway' instead.

© 2026 English Reference