any

1 of 3

adjective

ˈe-nē 

1

: one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind:

a

: one or another taken at random

Ask any man you meet.

b

: every

—used to indicate one selected without restriction

Any child would know that.

2

: one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity:

a

: one or more

—used to indicate an undetermined number or amount

Do you have any money?

b

: all

—used to indicate a maximum or whole

He needs any help he can get.

c

: a or some without reference to quantity or extent

I'd be grateful for any favor at all.

3

a

: unmeasured or unlimited in amount, number, or extent

any quantity you desire

b

: appreciably large or extended

could not endure it any length of time

any

2 of 3

pronoun

singular or plural in construction

1

: any person or persons : anyone

I don't know any of them.

2

a

: any thing or things

The movie's opening scene is as powerful as any I've seen.

b

: any part, quantity, or number

You haven't eaten any of your salad.

any

3 of 3

adverb

: to any extent or degree : at all

was never any good

No, it doesn't help me any.

Synonyms

Adjective

• each
• every

Examples of any in a Sentence

Adjective

any person who comes in the store today is eligible for the discount

Adverb

The food there is never any good.

He won't be any happier there than he was here.

I could not walk any farther.

I can't eat any more pizza.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

No one, after all, would be any the wiser: Hillary would coast to victory, so Democrats would continue running the government; FISA materials are highly classified, so they’d be kept under wraps. —Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 23 Dec. 2017

In another Tuesday morning tweet, the president denied even knowing any the women who have spoken out. —Benjamin Hart, Daily Intelligencer, 12 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English ǣnig; akin to Old High German einag any, Old English ān one — more at one

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing any

• any day now
• any/every Tom, Dick, and Harry
• any fool
• any longer
• any man Jack
• any number of
• any ol'
• any old
• any old day
• any ole
• any other
• any port in a storm
• any second now
• any the wiser
• any way you cut it
• any way you slice it
• as good a time as any
• at any hour
• at any length
• (at) any minute (now)
• (at) any moment (now)
• at any price
• at any rate
• at any second
• be any good
• by any means necessary
• by any/no stretch of the imagination
• doesn't know (any) better
• few if any
• for any length of time
• give me any shit
• go to any length(s)
• hardly any
• have any/much success
• if it's any consolation
• in any case
• in any event
• in any way, shape, or form
• little if any
• make (any) sense of
• not any good
• not any longer
• not by any manner of means
• not by any means
• not getting any younger
• not have any use for
• not in any/a hurry
• not make any difference
• not on any account
• not pay any attention to
• not pay (someone) any mind
• not take any chances
• not under any circumstances/under no circumstances
• not under any obligation
• of (any) assistance
• ruffle any feathers
• with (any) luck

Kids Definition

any

1 of 3 adjective

ˈen-ē 

1

: one taken at random

any person you meet

2

: every sense 1

any child knows that

3

: of whatever number or amount

haven't any money

any

2 of 3 pronoun singular or plural

1

: any individuals

are any of you ready

2

: any number or amount

there isn't any left

any

3 of 3 adverb

: to the least amount or degree

can't get it any clearer

was never any good