anything
A1All registers, neutral and common.
Definition
Meaning
Any object, event, or matter of any kind, without limitation.
Used to refer to a thing of any kind, or whatever thing is relevant, often in questions, negative statements, or conditional clauses; also used for emphasis in certain phrases (e.g., "anything but").
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a pronoun. In negative contexts, it means 'nothing.' In questions, it expresses an open range of possibility. Can be used for emphasis in comparative statements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor preference in certain collocations (e.g., 'anything goes' is equally common, but 'anything and everything' might be slightly more frequent in AmE advertising).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + anything (e.g., Do you need anything?)[negative] + anything (e.g., I don't see anything.)[if/whether] + anything (e.g., Call me if anything changes.)[adjective] + anything (e.g., Is there anything new?)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “anything but (not at all)”
- “anything goes (everything is permitted)”
- “like anything (very much or very fast)”
- “if anything (if there is any difference)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Is there anything we can do to improve the offer?"
Academic
"The theory does not predict anything about individual behaviour."
Everyday
"Do you want anything from the shop?"
Technical
"The sensor should not detect anything above this threshold."
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't know anything.
- Do you see anything?
- You can buy anything here.
- Is anything wrong?
- I would do anything for my family.
- She didn't say anything about the meeting.
- If you need anything, just ask.
- He eats almost anything.
- The contract doesn't allow for anything beyond the agreed scope.
- It wasn't anything like what I had imagined.
- There's hardly anything left in the budget.
- Is there anything to be gained from delaying?
- The new policy is anything but transparent.
- The results were ambiguous, suggesting if anything a slight decline.
- He'll argue about anything under the sun.
- She ran like anything to catch the last train.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANY + THING = any possible thing you can think of.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR POSSIBILITIES (e.g., 'Is there anything in that idea?'); SCALE OF IMPORTANCE (e.g., 'anything important').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'something' ('что-то'). 'Anything' is used in questions and negatives. In Russian, 'ничего' is the negative form, but 'anything' is not inherently negative.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'anything' in positive statements when 'something' is correct (e.g., 'I want anything to eat.' -> incorrect). Overusing 'anything' after 'no' (e.g., 'I have no anything.' -> incorrect, use 'nothing' or 'I don't have anything.').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'anything' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Something' is used in positive statements. 'Anything' is used in negative statements and most questions. (e.g., 'I want something.' vs. 'I don't want anything.' / 'Do you want anything?')
Yes, but only in specific contexts meaning 'it doesn't matter what,' often with 'can,' 'could,' or 'will.' (e.g., 'You can choose anything you like.')
It means 'not at all' or 'the opposite of.' (e.g., 'The holiday was anything but relaxing' means it was not relaxing at all.)
It is grammatically singular and takes singular verbs. (e.g., 'Is anything available?' not 'Are anything available?')
Explore