any
1 det You use any in statements with negative meaning to indicate that no thing or person of a particular type exists, is present, or is involved in a situation.
DET pl-n/n-uncount
I never make any big decisions..., We are doing this all without any support from the hospital..., Earlier reports were unable to confirm that there were any survivors...
Any is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n-uncount/def-pl-n
You don't know any of my friends...
Any is also a pronoun., pron PRON after v
The children needed new school clothes and Kim couldn't afford any.
2 det You use any in questions and conditional clauses to ask whether there is some of a particular thing or some of a particular group of people, or to suggest that there might be.
DET pl-n/n-uncount
Do you speak any foreign languages?..., Have you got any cheese I can have with this bread?
Any is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n-uncount/def-pl-n
Have you ever used a homeopathic remedy for any of the following reasons?
Any is also a pronoun., pron PRON after v
The plants are inspected for insects and if I find any, they are squashed.
3 det You use any in positive statements when you are referring to someone or something of a particular kind that might exist, occur, or be involved in a situation, when their exact identity or nature is not important.
Any actor will tell you that it is easier to perform than to be themselves..., I'm prepared to take any advice...
Any is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n-uncount/def-pl-n
It had been the biggest mistake any of them could remember.
Any is also a pronoun., pron
Clean the mussels and discard any that do not close.
4 adv You can also use any to emphasize a comparative adjective or adverb in a negative statement.
ADV compar (emphasis)
I can't see things getting any easier for graduates...
5 If you say that someone or something is not just any person or thing, you mean that they are special in some way.
♦
not just any phrase PHR n
It's fashionable for young people to wear trainers, but not just any trainers.
6 If something does not happen or is not true any more or any longer, it has stopped happening or is no longer true.
♦
any more/any longer phrase PHR after v
I don't want to see her any more..., I couldn't keep the tears hidden any longer.
7
→
in any case
→
case
→
by any chance
→
chance
→
in any event
→
event
→
not by any means
→
means
→
any old
→
old
→
at any rate
→
rate
Translation English - Cobuild Collins Dictionary
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"Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition published in 2003 © HarperCollins Publishers 1987, 1995, 2001, 2003 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"