adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪf ˈɛnɪθɪŋ/
Received-Pronunciation:/-ni-/
General-American:/ɪf ˈɛniθɪŋ/
Mid-Atlantic, US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case (often the opposite of something previously implied).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable
Examples
The situation is, if anything, worsening rather than improving.
“Do you think she’s tall?” / “Oh, no. If anything, she’s short.”
“Do you think she’s tall?” / “Oh, yes. If anything, she’s very tall.”
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable
Examples
What can you tell me, if anything, about this book?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
19 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
要說真有什麼的話 /要说真有什么的话
(yào shuō zhēn yǒu shénme de huà)
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Finnish:
pikemminkin
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
German:
wenn überhaupt
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
German:
eher
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
German:
doch eher
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
si acaso
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
caso que
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
más bien (al contrario)
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
más que nada
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
en todo caso
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Spanish:
a lo sumo
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Swedish:
om något
— used to suggest or state tentatively that something may be the case
Chinese Mandarin:
要說真有什麼的話 /要说真有什么的话
(yào shuō zhēn yǒu shénme de huà)
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
Finnish:
jos mitään
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
German:
eigentlich
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
German:
überhaupt
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
Norwegian Bokmål:
om noe
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
Spanish:
si algo
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
Spanish:
si nada más
— used in questions when the speaker does not know for sure if the listener will have an answer
