any definition | Dictionary.com

an⋅y

[en-ee]

–adjective

1.	one, a, an, or some; one or more without specification or identification: If you have any witnesses, produce them. Pick out any six you like.

2.	whatever or whichever it may be: cheap at any price.

3.	in whatever quantity or number, great or small; some: Do you have any butter?

4.	every; all: Any schoolboy would know that. Read any books you find on the subject.

5.	(following a negative) at all: She can't endure any criticism.

–pronoun

6.	an unspecified person or persons; anybody; anyone: He does better than any before him.

7.	a single one or ones; an unspecified thing or things; a quantity or number: We don't have any left.

–adverb

8.	in whatever degree; to some extent; at all: Do you feel any better?

—Idiom

9.	any which way, in any manner whatever; indifferently or carelessly: Doing your work any which way is just not good enough.

Origin:
bef. 950; ME eni, ani, OE ǣnig (OE ān one + -ig -y ¹ )

Synonyms:
3. See some.

Usage note:
See anybody, anyone, anyplace, anyway, either, they.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To any

an·y (ěn'ē)

adj.

One, some, every, or all without specification: Take any book you want. Are there any messages for me? Any child would love that. Give me any food you don't want.
Exceeding normal limits, as in size or duration: The patient cannot endure chemotherapy for any length of time.

pron. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
Any one or more persons, things, or quantities.
adv. To any degree or extent; at all: didn't feel any better.

[Middle English ani, from Old English ǣnig; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]

Usage Note: When used as a pronoun, any can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on how it is construed: Any of these books is suitable (that is, any one). But are any (that is, some) of them available? · The construction of any is often used in informal contexts to mean "of all," as in He is the best known of any living playwright. In an earlier survey this example was unacceptable in writing to 67 percent of the Usage Panel. · Any is also used to mean "at all" before a comparative adjective or adverb in questions and negative sentences: Is she any better? Is he doing any better? He is not any friendlier than before. This usage is entirely acceptable. The related use of any to modify a verb is considered informal. In writing, one should avoid sentences like It didn't hurt any or If the child cries any, give her the bottle. See Usage Notes at every, they.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Any

A"ny\, a. & pron. [OE. [ae]ni[yogh], [ae]ni, eni, ani, oni, AS. [=ae]nig, fr. [=a]n one. It is akin to OS. [=e]nig, OHG. einic, G. einig, D. eenig. See One.]

1. One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one indefinitely, whosoever or whatsoever it may be.

Note: Any is often used in denying or asserting without limitation; as, this thing ought not be done at any time; I ask any one to answer my question.

No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. --Matt. xi. 27.

2. Some, of whatever kind, quantity, or number; as, are there any witnesses present? are there any other houses like it? "Who will show us any good?" --Ps. iv. 6.

Note: It is often used, either in the singular or the plural, as a pronoun, the person or thing being understood; anybody; anyone; (pl.) any persons.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, . . . and it shall be given him. --Jas. i. 5.

That if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. --Acts ix. 2.

At any rate, In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow.

Any

A"ny\, adv. To any extent; in any degree; at all.

You are not to go loose any longer. --Shak.

Before you go any farther. --Steele.

Language Translation for : any

Spanish: cualquier,

German: irgendeiner, *irgendeine, *irgendeines,

Japanese: どれでも

More Translations »

any

O.E. ænig "any, anyone," lit. "one-y," from P.Gmc. *ainagas (cf. O.S. enig, O.N. einigr, O.Fris. enich, Du. enig, Ger. einig). Thr -y may have dim. force here. Any old is from 1896. Combinations anywise, anyone, anything date back to O.E.; anywhere is from c.1300; anybody 1490; anyway 1570 (but anyways, with adverbial genitive, is from 1560); anyhow 1740; anyplace 1934. Anywhen (1831) is rarely used.

any

In addition to the idioms beginning with any, also see at any rate; by any means; go to any length; in any case; under any (no) circumstances.

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