Cool MateAnything at all vs Everything
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Anything at all
Top 2,000 (common)
Everything
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
Most common: Everything
| Anything at all | Everything | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɛnɪθɪŋ æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //ˈeniˌθɪŋ æt ɔl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈevriθɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈevriθɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Anything, without any limits or restrictions. | all things; all that exists |
| Example | You can choose anything at all from the menu. | Everything had gone. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | |
| Collocations | know anything at all, try anything at all, choose anything at all | everything is fine, everything changes, everything you need, everything will be okay |
| Antonyms | - | nothing |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal contexts where a simpler phrase would suffice., Confused with 'anyone at all', referring to people instead of things., Incorrectly used in negative sentences where 'nothing at all' is more appropriate. | 'Everythings' as a plural form, Using 'everything' with uncountable nouns incorrectly, Confused with 'all' or 'everyone' |
| Usage notes | Used informally in conversation to emphasize that there are no limits. Appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'everything' in general contexts. It's suitable for conversations, written texts, and all registers, but avoid formal academic writing where specificity is required. |
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Frequently asked questions: Anything at all vs Everything
What's the difference between Anything at all and Everything?
Anything at all: Anything, without any limits or restrictions. Everything: all things; all that exists
Which is more common: Anything at all and Everything?
Everything is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Anything at all: You can choose anything at all from the menu. Everything: Everything had gone.
Can I use Anything at all and Everything interchangeably?
Not always. Anything at all and Everything are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.