different between anything vs anyone

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n.i.???/
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): /?æ.ni.???/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??.n?.???/, /??.ni.???/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /??.n?.???/
• Hyphenation: an?y?thing

Etymology 1

From Middle English anything, enything, onything, from Late Old English aniþing, from earlier ?ni? þing (literally “any thing”), equivalent to any +? thing.

Pronoun

anything

1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; a thing of any kind; something or other.

   Synonym: aught
2. (with “as” or “like”) Expressing an indefinite comparison.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

anything (plural anythings)

1. Someone or something of importance.

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English anything, enything, onything, onythynge, from Old English ?ni?e þinga, ?n?i þinga (literally “by any of things”), from ?ni?e, instrumental form of ?ni? (“any”) + þinga, genitive plural of þing (“thing”).

Adverb

anything (not comparable)

1. In any way, any extent or any degree.

   That isn't anything like a car.

   She's not anything like as strong as me.

References

• anything in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Thingyan

English

Alternative forms

• any one

Etymology

any +? one

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??ni?w?n/, /?æni?w?n/

Pronoun

anyone

1. Any person; anybody.

   Almost anyone can change a light bulb.

   • 1891, George Bernard Shaw, Quintessence of Ibsenism

     The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.

Synonyms

• anybody

Related terms

Translations