What does anyway mean?
Anyway is one of English's most versatile adverbs, serving two principal functions. First, it expresses concession or persistence: placed at the end of a clause, it indicates that an action happens regardless of obstacles, objections, or expectations — 'We missed the train, but we got there eventually anyway.' Second, it acts as a conversational hinge: at the start of an utterance, 'Anyway' signals a return to the main topic after a digression, or a polite brush-off, as in 'Anyway, I'd better get going.' The word carries an informal, conversational tone, making it common in speech and casual writing but less suited to formal prose, where 'nevertheless' or 'in any case' may be preferred. A related sense uses anyway to soften refusals or express indifference, as in 'Thanks anyway.' It should be distinguished from the noun phrase 'any way,' which means 'in any manner.' The casual variant 'anyways' exists but is considered nonstandard.
adverbUsed to indicate that something continues or happens regardless of other circumstances, often despite an obstacle or contrary expectation; also used to resume a topic of conversation or add a dismissive or concessive remark.
- In spite of everything; regardless; nevertheless (often after a clause beginning with 'even' or following 'but').
- Used to introduce or resume a main point in conversation, often after a digression.
- In any case; at least, often softening a refusal or expressing indifference.
"It started raining halfway through the picnic, but we stayed anyway."
"She knew she wouldn't win the argument, so she apologized and changed the subject anyway."
"Anyway, as I was saying before the phone rang, the tickets go on sale Friday."
"Thanks anyway" might be the politest way to reject something in English — a two-word phrase built from a word that originally just meant "in any way at all."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anyway
Anyway derives from Middle English, formed by compounding 'any' (from Old English 'ǣnig,' related to the Germanic root behind 'one') with 'way' (from Old English 'weg,' a common Germanic term for road or path). It originally meant literally 'in any way or manner,' a sense still visible in older texts. Over time, especially by the early modern period, the adverb developed its concessive and discourse-marking uses — signaling persistence despite obstacles and pivoting conversation back on track. Its close relatives 'anyhow,' 'anywhere,' and 'anybody' were formed through the same pattern of compounding 'any' with another element.
How anyway is actually used
Anyway is overwhelmingly informal-to-neutral in register; in very formal writing it may be replaced by 'nevertheless', 'nonetheless', or 'in any case'. Sentence-final anyway ('I went anyway') signals concession, while sentence-initial anyway ('Anyway, ...') signals a conversational pivot back to the topic. Avoid the nonstandard spelling 'anyways', which is widely considered informal or incorrect.
Easily confused with anyway
"Anyway" is a single-word adverb meaning "regardless" or used to shift topics, while "any way" is the noun phrase "any way" meaning "in any manner," as in "Is there any way you could help?"