DictionaryAI

any

SayEN-ee/ˈɛni/UK/ˈɛnɪ/

5 meanings of any

Practice

  1. 1
    no matter whichdeterminer
    One, some, or every one, without specifying or restricting which.

    Take any seat you like; the meeting won't start for another ten minutes.

    You can call me at any time.

    UsageCommon in offers and rules: any seat you like, press any key; in questions it usually means at least one.

  2. 2
    at least onedeterminer
    Some, one at all, or a positive quantity of, chiefly in questions and negatives.

    Did you find any mistakes?

    I haven't heard any news.

    Similarsome

    Oppositeno, zero

  3. 3
    pronoun
    One or more people or things, or an amount of something, no matter which; in questions and negatives, even one or even a little.

    If there are cakes, save me any that are left.

    Do you know any of these people?

    UsageOften any of a group: any of these people, any of it; it can also stand alone, as in is there any left?

    Oppositenone

  4. 4
    adverb
    To the slightest extent, at all ('you don't seem any the worse', 'any longer'; chiefly US 'that doesn't bother me any').

    Is she feeling any better today?

    Complaining about the weather doesn't help us any.

    UsageUsually before a comparative: any better, any longer; after a verb, as in doesn't help us any, it is chiefly American.

    Note

    In any the worse, the 'the' is an old instrumental form meaning 'by that much', not the ordinary article.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • The 'the' in 'any the worse' survives from an old instrumental form. en.wiktionary.org
    • This comparative 'the' means 'by that much' and is distinct from the ordinary article. en.wikisource.org

Less common meaning

  1. 5
    very soondeterminer
    Used with words of time to mean an unspecified but imminent moment.

    The results should be out any minute.

    Any second now the lights will come on.

    UsageWith time words, often followed by now: any minute now, any day now; at any moment also works.

    Note

    Free choice turned toward the clock: any day means whichever day, and so possibly the very next one.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of any apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English any, from Old English ǣniġ ("any"), going back through Proto-Germanic to *ainaz ("one"). It is essentially "one" plus the suffix "-y," and is related to Dutch enig and German einig.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts