any

 
Pronunciation: /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
  • anyone: the city council ceased payments to any but the aged
  • 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

adverb

[usually with negative or in questions, as submodifier]
  • at 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
  • US informal at all (used alone, not qualifying another word): I didn’t hurt you any

Phrases

any amount of

see amount

any more (also anymore)

[usually with negative or in questions] to any further extent; any longer: she refused to listen any more

any old

see old

any road (up)

chiefly Northern Englishinformal term for anyway any road, I’m sure you’ll make a go of it

any time (also anytime)

at whatever time: she can come any time

any time (or day or minute etc.) now

informal very soon: we’ll get them back any day now

be not having any (of it)

informal be uninterested or disagree: I tried to make polite conversation, but he wasn’t having any

not just any ——

a particular or special thing of its type rather than any ordinary one of that type: he had an acting job at last, and not just any part, but the lead in a new film

Origin:

Old English ǣnig (see one, -y1), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eenig and German einig

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).