any

1 of 3

adjective

ˈe-nē

Synonyms of any next

: one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind:

: one or another taken at random

Ask any man you meet.

: every

—used to indicate one selected without restriction

Any child would know that.

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

: one or more

—used to indicate an undetermined number or amount

Do you have any money?

: all

—used to indicate a maximum or whole

He needs any help he can get.

: a or some without reference to quantity or extent

I'd be grateful for any favor at all.

: unmeasured or unlimited in amount, number, or extent

any quantity you desire

: appreciably large or extended

could not endure it any length of time

any

2 of 3

pronoun

singular or plural in construction

: any person or persons : anyone

I don't know any of them.

: any thing or things

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

: 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.

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Adverb

How is this any different than Anthony Richardson pulling himself out? —

Scott Thompson, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024 Harris’s appearance could hardly have gone any better for her. —

Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for any

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of any was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing any

Cite this Entry

Style

“Any.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/any. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

any

1 of 3 adjective

ˈen-ē

: one taken at random

any person you meet

: every sense 1

any child knows that

: of whatever number or amount

haven't any money

any

2 of 3 singular or plural pronoun

: any individuals

are any of you ready

: 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

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

victuals

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

any

adjective

pronoun

adverb

Synonyms

Examples of any in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near any

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition