anyone

anyone — pronoun

1. an unspecified person, especially in questions, negative statements, and similar

1.pronounA2
Definition

an unspecified person, especially in questions, negative statements, and similar structures.

Example

Did anyone see Una leave the school gate after lunch?

question pattern: Did anyone ...?

I looked around the bus, but I did not know anyone there.

negative statement: not know anyone

Common collocations
  • did anyone
  • if anyone
  • know anyone
  • let anyone
  • hardly anyone
Synonyms
  • anybody

    almost the same meaning, but slightly more conversational

  • someone

    less neutral in questions; often suggests the speaker expects a person may exist

  • a single person

    used for strong emphasis, mainly in negative statements

Antonyms
  • no one

    means that zero people are involved

Grammar Patterns

Did anyone ...?

not + anyone

if / whether + anyone

stop / prevent + anyone + from ...

Usage Note

Most common in questions, negatives, and after if or whether. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the positive-statement use meaning that the person does not matter.

Common Mistakes

Did someone call me while I was out?
Did anyone call me while I was out?
use 'anyone' for a neutral question about whether a person exists.

2. whoever the person may be, without caring which one is chosen or included.

2.pronounB1
Definition

whoever the person may be, without caring which one is chosen or included.

Example

Anyone can join the clean-up if they bring work gloves.

Anyone can + verb

The prize was open to anyone over eighteen in town.

open to anyone

Common collocations
  • anyone can
  • anyone who
  • open to anyone
  • help anyone
  • choose anyone
Synonyms
  • anybody

    same meaning in most contexts, with a slightly more spoken tone

  • whoever

    often sounds broader and usually links to a following clause

  • any person

    more formal and common in notices or rules

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

Anyone can ...

anyone who ...

open to anyone

choose anyone

Usage Note

Common in positive statements that allow or include everybody. Distinguish from sense 1, which mainly appears when you ask whether a person exists or say that none does.

Common Mistakes

Someone can join the race if they pay today.
Anyone can join the race if they pay today.
use 'anyone' when the chance is open to all people, not one unknown person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/1

For neutral questions and negatives, anyone is usually the safest choice. Anybody is almost identical in meaning, but it often sounds a little more conversational. Someone is different: speakers often choose it when they think a person probably exists or when they expect the answer may be yes. Compare Did anyone call? with Did someone call?, which can sound less neutral. For stronger emphasis in negatives, English may use a single person instead: I did not tell a single person. Anyone also fits naturally after if and whether, as in If anyone asks, call me.

anybody ↗someone ↗a single person

Common collocations

Phrases

  • anyone else
  • anyone at all
  • if anyone

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Anyone comes from the combination of any and one. English first used one for a single person, and over time the two words settled into a fixed pronoun meaning an unspecified person. In modern English, it is common both in questions and negatives and in open-choice statements such as Anyone can apply.