anyone

Universal Words (also anybody) pronoun 1 used instead of someone in negative sentences and in questions after if/whether, and after verbs such as prevent, ban, avoid: Is anyone there? * Does anyone else want to come? * Did anyone see you? * Hardly anyone came. * I forbid anyone to touch that clock. HELPNOTE The difference between anyone and someone is the same as the difference between any and some. Look at the notes there. 2 any person at all; it does not matter who: Anybody can see that it's wrong. * The exercises are so simple that almost anyone can do them. 3 (in negative sentences) an important person: She wasn't anybody before she got that job.