any
/ˈɛni
/determiner & pronoun
1 [usually with negative or in questions] Used to refer to one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or how many: [as determiner]: I don’t have any choice do you have any tips to pass on? [as pronoun]: someone asked him for a match, but Joe didn’t have any you don’t know any of my friends...
- Not like you had any choice about the matter, packed lunches were banned, so you had to cough up.
- He tiptoed around it, trying not to get any of the putrid matter slop onto his fluffy bunny slippers.
- Not that any of that matters, but if these guys mess up again, an awful lot of people are going to get mad.
Synonyms
some, a piece of, a part of, a bit of
1.1Anyone: the city council ceased payments to any but the aged...
- Those who do not register in time to participate in the player selection system shall be ineligible, with these exceptions -- any who were sick or injured or any who became new permanent residents of the community after the selection.
- He doubted any would stop him if they'd seen his coat of arms.
- Buses will evacuate any who can't drive away.
Synonyms
anyone, anybody
2Whichever of a specified class might be chosen: [as determiner]: these constellations are visible at any hour of the night [as pronoun]: the illness may be due to any of several causes...
- She cringed, remembering how Sara had asked her to take notes in any of the classes she would be missing.
- Boxing will be in for a treat if any of the class of 2004 show even a flash of their brilliance.
- An hour spent with any of those people and you feel like clapping for joy, or asking if you can do it all again.
Synonyms
whichever, whichever comes to hand, no matter which, never mind which
informal any old
adverb [usually with negative or in questions, as submodifier]
1At all; in some degree (used for emphasis): he wasn’t any good at basketball why look any further? no one would be any the wiser...
- Luckily they don't have to scrape about any further as the survey is in again.
- If it had gone on any longer we may well not have lived to tell the tale.
- This, however, didn't make her feel any the better.
Synonyms
at all, in the least, to any extent, to some extent, somewhat, in any degree, to some degree
1.1US informal At all (used alone, not qualifying another word): I didn’t hurt you any...
- Yes he has hit into bad luck, and the new defensive approach hasn't helped him any.
- It didn't seem to hurt him any.
- He has a slight limp due to a healed injury to a front foreleg, but that sure doesn't hinder him any!
Usage
When used as a pronoun any can be used with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context: we needed more sugar but there wasn’t any left (singular verb) or are any of the new videos available? (plural verb).
Phrases
any amount of
any more (also anymore)
any old
any road (up)
any time (also anytime)
any time (or day or minute etc.) now
be not having any (of it)
not just any ——
Origin
Old English ǣnig (see one, -y1), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eenig and German einig.
Rhymes
- cut someone dead
- cut someone down to size
- cut someone in
- cut someone off
- cut someone off (or down) in their prime
- cut someone out
- cut someone some slack
- cut someone/thing loose (or free)
- cut someone/thing short
- cut someone to pieces
- cut someone to the quick
- cut someone up
- cut something down to size
- cut something off
- cutter
- cut the cackle
- cut the corner
- cut the crap
- cut the Gordian knot
- cut the ground from under someone's feet
- cut the mustard
- cut the (umbilical) cord
- cut-throat
- cut-throat finch
- cut-throat razor