an ‧ y ‧ thing S1 W1 /ˈeniθɪŋ/ BrE AmE pronoun
1 . any thing, event, situation etc, when it is not important to say exactly which:
You can buy anything you want.
He was prepared to do anything to make a bit of money.
Anything would be better than staying at home!
You can write about swimming, skiing, or anything else you enjoy doing.
2 . used in questions to mean ‘something’:
Is there anything I can do to help?
Do you want anything from the shops?
Would you like anything else to eat?
3 . used in negative sentences to mean no thing event etc:
We didn’t have anything to eat for three days.
Don’t do anything until we get there.
4 . anything but used to emphasize that someone or something does not have a particular quality:
Maria is anything but stupid!
5 . anything like somebody/something similar in any way to someone or something else:
You don’t look anything like your mother.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to be where the action is.
6 . not anything like/near spoken used to emphasize a negative sentence:
We don’t have anything like enough money to buy a new car.
7 . as important/clear/big etc as anything informal extremely important, clear etc:
He was as nice as anything to me.
8 . or anything spoken or something that is similar:
Would you like a drink or anything?
9 . anything goes informal used to say that anything someone says or does is acceptable:
From what other people were wearing, it looked like anything goes.
10 . for anything informal if you will not do something for anything, you will definitely not do it:
I wouldn’t go back there for anything.
11 . like anything informal if you do something like anything, you do it a lot:
We all encouraged him like anything.
12 . if anything spoken used when you are adding something to emphasize what you have just said:
Sam didn’t seem too disappointed at losing. If anything, he seemed relieved that it was all over.
13 . anything you say spoken used to tell someone you agree with what they suggest:
Yes, of course, anything you say.