You use anyway or anyhow to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous point.
I'm certain David's told you his business troubles. Anyway, it's no secret that heowes money.
Mother certainly won't let him stay with her and anyhow he wouldn't.
Synonyms: anyhow, regardless, in any case, for all that More Synonyms of anyway
2. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to suggest that a statement is true or relevant in spite of other things that have been said.
I don't know why I settled on Aberdeen, but anyway I did.
I wasn't qualified to apply for the job really but I got it anyhow.
3. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to correct or modify a statement, for example to limit it to what you definitely know to be true.
Mary Ann doesn't want to have children. Not right now, anyway.
4. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to indicate that you are asking what the real situation is or what the real reason for something is.
What do you want from me, anyway?
Where was Bud, anyhow?
5. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to indicate that you are missing out some details in a story and are passing on to the next main point or event.
I was told to go to Reading for this interview. It was a very amusing affair. Anyhow,I got the job.
6. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to change the topic or return to a previous topic.
'I've got a terrible cold.'—'Have you? Anyway, so you're staying at home this weekend?'
7. adverb
You use anyway or anyhow to indicate that you want to end the conversation.
'Anyway, I'd better let you have your dinner. Give our love to Francis. Bye.'
'Anyhow, thanks a lot. Bye bye.'
anyway in British English
(ˈɛnɪˌweɪ)
adverb
1.
in any case; at any rate; nevertheless; anyhow
2.
in a careless or haphazard manner
3.
Usually any way. in any manner; by any means
anyway in American English
(ˈəniˌweɪ)
adverb
1.
in any manner or way
2.
at least; nevertheless; anyhow
3.
haphazardly; carelessly
Also ; Dialectal ˈanyˌways
Examples of 'anyway' in a sentence
anyway
Celebrity is whingeing about being paid millions for doing what you'd want to do anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you saw it, go again anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
And if you are worried enough to try this app, you should be going anyway.
The Sun (2016)
Football was always what I wanted to do anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But old men who think they're going to die anyway aren't very effective activists.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And I'm not sure she has done her job that well anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Why not just spend the money improving roads anyway?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You need to do your job anyway.
The Sun (2010)
My spies tell me that her turntable work is pretty limited anyway.
The Sun (2007)
The school needs to know anyway so they are understanding if this affects her schoolwork.
The Sun (2014)
Your comments are unlikely to reach those you want them to anyway.
The Sun (2015)
Where the hell have they got to go anyway?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You stick with him so he has no reason to change anyway.
The Sun (2015)
Who else would pay him that money anyway?
The Sun (2010)
He may be taken off the job anyway next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But here the garden is limited anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Whose business is it anyway where anyone wants to send their money?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She said she was going to have a go anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Until the summer anyway when change will be inevitable.
The Sun (2016)
We have little money anyway and he just throws it away.
The Sun (2013)
Hazard could hurt you anyway he wanted.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was an egg that would have gone to waste anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They rarely change and anyway she eats like a sparrow.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
Many refused the offer of money anyway.
Christy Campbell PHYLLOXERA: How Wine was Saved for the World (2004)
His defensive options are limited anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Too much is made of work defined as a job, anyway.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
The world knows anyway that Britain is a soft touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She took the job anyway, but the experience riled.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Perhaps that's all we needed to know anyway.
The Sun (2010)
Who set those limits, anyway?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
anyway
British English: anyway /ˈɛnɪˌweɪ/ ADVERB
You use anyway or anyhow to give the idea that something is true even though other things have been said.
I'm not very good at golf, but I play anyway.
American English: anyway
Arabic: على أَيِّ حال
Brazilian Portuguese: de qualquer maneira
Chinese: 总之
Croatian: ipak
Czech: stejně
Danish: alligevel
Dutch: hoe dan ook
European Spanish: de todos modos
Finnish: joka tapauksessa
French: de toute façon
German: trotzdem
Greek: εν πάση περιπτώσει
Italian: comunque
Japanese: とにかく
Korean: 어쨌든
Norwegian: likevel
Polish: w każdym razie
European Portuguese: de qualquer maneira
Romanian: oricum
Russian: как бы то ни было
Latin American Spanish: de todos modos
Swedish: i alla fall
Thai: อย่างไรก็ตาม
Turkish: neyse
Ukrainian: в будь-якому разі
Vietnamese: dù sao đi nữa
Chinese translation of 'anyway'
anyway
(ˈɛnɪweɪ)
adv
(= besides) 无(無)论(論)如何 (wúlùn rúhé)
(= all the same) 还(還)是 (háishì)
(= at least) 至少 (zhìshǎo)
(= in short) 总(總)之 (zǒngzhī)
(= well) 不管怎样(樣) (wùguǎn zěnyàng)
I shall go anyway无论(論)如何我要走了 (bùlùn rúhé wǒ yào zǒu le)
why are you phoning, anyway?你到底为(為)什么(麼)打电(電)话(話)? (nǐ dàodǐ wèishénme dǎ diànhuà?)
(adverb)
Definition
at any rate
You don't want to hear this, but I'll tell you anyway.
Synonyms
anyhow
Anyhow, it's no secret that he owes money.
regardless
Despite her recent surgery she has been carrying on regardless.
in any case
for all that
at any rate
Well, at any rate, let me thank you for all you did.
in any event
Usage note
The single-word form anyway should not be used as an alternative to any way, because the meanings are very distinct. Anyway is an adverb meaning `nonetheless' or, in a different sense, `besides'. Any way, however, means `by any means' or `in any manner'. The distinction can be seen in the following examples: it wasn't my job, but I helped anyway means `in spite of this fact', while we will help in any way we can means `any manner at all'.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of at any rate
Definition
in any case
Well, at any rate, let me thank you for all you did.
Synonyms
in any case,
anyway,
nevertheless,
anyhow,
at all events
in the sense of regardless
Definition
in spite of everything
Despite her recent surgery she has been carrying on regardless.