any

Pronunciation: /ˈɛni/

Translate any | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of any

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).

any in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of any in the US English dictionary

Subscriber login

Library card login

Other

any

determiner & pronoun

adverb

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:

any in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for any

Word of the day

offing