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

The first thing to do is remove any the things that attract the skunk. —Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2017

Adverb

If critics cease to be, would life on earth be any different? —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023

But beyond that, Motorola doesn't seem any closer to releasing the design. —Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 Oct. 2023

Asics Women’s Gel-nimbus 24 Running Shoes At first glance, the Gel-Nimbus 24s may not look any different than the sneakers currently in your closet. —Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2023

But Republicans don't appear to be any closer to coalescing around one candidate to become the next speaker. —ABC News, 8 Oct. 2023

Best Amazon Home Deals Deals aren’t any less impressive in Amazon’s home department. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023

After a remarkably short court proceeding, a judge praised Norton for his candor and ordered him not to view Gunn’s application any differently from another applicant. —Rebecca Griesbach | [e-mail], al, 11 Sep. 2023

If kept as a pet, the species need a shallow water bowl, but access to the water should not be any deeper than the tortoise's bridge, the section of its body where the top and bottom shell meet. —Michael Tortorich, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023

So, in my eyes, a continuing resolution that just has fake things doesn't get us any closer. —CBS News, 24 Sep. 2023

See More

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

See More

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

See More

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