everything

everything — pronoun

1. every single thing that exists, happens, or is part of a particular situation or

1.pronounA1
Definition

every single thing that exists, happens, or is part of a particular situation or activity

Example

Owen packed everything he had into one big bag.

everything + relative clause (he had)

Lien looked at everything in the room and smiled.

Common collocations
  • everything in
  • everything about
  • everything + relative clause
  • everything else
Synonyms
  • all

    broader and can be a determiner (all the books) or pronoun (all is well); everything feels more item-by-item

  • the whole lot

    informal, usually refers to physical objects rather than abstract things

  • each and every thing

    emphatic, deliberately highlights individual items within a set

Antonyms
  • nothing

    the complete opposite — zero things rather than all things

Grammar Patterns

everything + relative clause

everything + in/of/about + noun phrase

Usage Note

Grammatically singular — takes a singular verb even though it refers to multiple items (e.g. Everything is ready, NOT Everything are ready). Frequently followed by a relative clause with or without 'that'.

Common Mistakes

Everything are in the box.
Everything is in the box.
'everything' is always singular in grammar.
I gave him everythings.
I gave him everything.
'everything' has no plural form.
Every thing I own is old.
Everything I own is old.
the one-word form is standard in modern English.

2. the person, thing, or idea that matters more than anything else in a given situa

2.pronounB1
Definition

the person, thing, or idea that matters more than anything else in a given situation or to a particular person

Example

To Vikram, his little daughter's smile is everything.

[something] + be + everything + to + [someone]

Winning the race was everything to the young team.

Common collocations
  • means everything (to)
  • is everything (to)
  • matters everything (to)
Synonyms
  • all that matters

    slightly more formal and emphatic; often used in writing

  • one's world

    more poetic, usually about a person (e.g. Her children are her world)

  • someone's priority

    more formal, implies deliberate choice rather than emotional attachment

Antonyms
  • nothing

    the opposite extreme — having no importance at all

Grammar Patterns

everything + to + noun/person

be + everything (to someone)

mean everything (to someone)

Usage Note

This sense is contrastive: it implies that other things are unimportant by comparison. Commonly used after verbs like be, mean, or matter. Cannot be used before a noun — it remains a pronoun even in this abstract sense.

Common Mistakes

Money is everythings to him.
Money is everything to him.
no plural form.
She is the everything in my life.
She is everything in my life.
no article needed before 'everything'.

3. used after naming a few examples to suggest there are more similar items without

3.pronounB1
Definition

used after naming a few examples to suggest there are more similar items without naming them all

Example

We bought food, drinks, cups and everything for the party.

[list] + and everything + for + [purpose]

Minh packed a tent, a sleeping bag and everything for the trip.

Common collocations
  • and everything
  • and everything else
  • and everything like that
Synonyms
  • and so on

    more formal and common in writing; also works for abstract items

  • and the like

    slightly formal; good for categories (e.g. shirts, jackets and the like)

  • et cetera / etc.

    formal, used in writing; pronounced fully only in formal speech

Grammar Patterns

[list of items] + and everything + [additional context]

[list of items] + and everything else

Usage Note

Used mainly in spoken or informal written English. The items listed before 'and everything' are usually concrete objects. In more formal writing, alternatives such as 'and so on', 'and the like', or 'et cetera' are preferred.

Common Mistakes

I need bread, milk, eggs and everything to make a cake.
I need bread, milk, eggs and everything else to make a cake.
'and everything else' sounds more natural when the speaker has a specific purpose.
Idioms

and everything

idiom

Used to include all other related items or details without listing them.

Maya packed her swimsuit, towel, and everything for the beach trip.

Did you bring your passport, tickets, and everything for the flight?

everything — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/1

Everything and all both refer to the complete set of items in a group, but they differ grammatically and in nuance. Everything is always a pronoun and takes a singular verb — it emphasises each individual item within the set. All can be either a determiner (all the guests) or a pronoun (all is ready), and it tends to treat the group as a whole rather than as separate pieces. The whole lot is an informal alternative used mainly for physical objects (She sold the whole lot at the market) and would sound odd with abstract ideas. Each and every thing is an emphatic, wordier version that deliberately draws attention to individual items in a list or category. In everyday speech, everything is the most natural choice for both concrete and abstract meanings. Use all when you need a determiner before a noun; use everything when you need a standalone pronoun.

all ↗the whole lot ↗each and every thing

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • almost everything
  • nearly everything
  • practically everything
  • absolutely everything

Phrases

  • everything else
  • everything from A to Z
  • everything under the sun
  • and everything

Prepositions

  • everything about
  • everything in
  • everything on
  • everything except
  • everything but
  • everything from X to Y

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Middle English everich thing (each thing), a compound of every (from Old English æfre ǣlc, literally 'ever each') and thing. The two words merged into a single compound by the 14th century, and the modern spelling everything became standard in the 16th century.