anybody
EHN-ee-bod-ee
Anybody (pron) means any person at all; anyone. Example: “Is anybody home?”
pron
1
Any person at all; anyone.
"Is anybody home?"
"Anybody could have made that mistake."
"Does anybody know where I left my umbrella?"
2
(informal) A person of some importance or standing.
"If you want to be anybody in this industry, you need to network."
How to use anybody
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAny person, no one specific.
Common mistake
"Anybody" and "anyone" mean the same thing and are interchangeable — pick whichever sounds better in the sentence.
Easily confused with
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Etymology
Came into English from Middle English ani-bodi, anybodi and eny body; on the surface, it is simply any joined with body.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for anybody
See all rhymes for anybody →Frequently asked questions
What does “anybody” mean?
The word “anybody” means any person at all; anyone. In plain terms, any person, no one specific.
How do you pronounce “anybody”?
“Anybody” is pronounced EHN-ee-bod-ee (/ˈɛn.i.bə.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “anybody” in a sentence?
Here is “anybody” used in a sentence: “Anybody could have made that mistake.”
What is another word for “anybody”?
Words with a similar meaning to “anybody” include anyone.
What part of speech is “anybody”?
“Anybody” is a pronoun.
Is “anybody” a common word?
“Anybody” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “anybody” have?
“Anybody” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any person at all; anyone.
What is the difference between anybody and anyone?
There is almost no difference: both mean any person at all, and they are interchangeable in nearly every sentence. Anybody can feel slightly more casual and spoken, while anyone can feel a touch more formal, but the meaning is identical. Choose whichever sounds more natural in your sentence.
Is it anybody or any body?
As a pronoun meaning any person, it is one word: anybody. The two-word form 'any body' refers to a physical body or a distinct group, as in 'any body of water' or 'any governing body.' If you mean a person, always write anybody.
What is the difference between anybody and somebody?
Anybody means any person at all, with no one specified, and often appears in questions and negatives ('Is anybody there?'). Somebody points to a particular but unnamed person, usually in positive statements ('Somebody called you'). Anybody is open and general; somebody suggests one specific individual.
Is anybody singular or plural?
Anybody is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb, as in 'Is anybody here?' In modern usage, the following pronoun is often 'they,' as in 'Has anybody lost their keys?' even though the word itself remains singular. This mix is standard and widely accepted.
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