do anything
idiom
1
: to take an action that is considered wrong or suspicious or of particular interest
If he does anything, let me know.
—often used in negative statements"Why is she mad?" "I don't know. I didn't do anything."
2
: to be occupied with something
I need to start dinner, but I can't do anything until you get out of the way.
If you're not doing anything this evening, why not come over for dinner?
Examples of do anything in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No biologist or environmentalist or anyone even remotely interested in conservation would do anything like this.
—
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Knowing the corruption in the force runs deeper than Lafferty's crimes but unable to do anything about it, Mickey ultimately ends up resigning.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
In the meantime, party moderates are being tarred with progressive brushes, and Democratic leadership is unwilling or unable to do anything about it.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
Without fair elections, an honest media environment and a credible opposition, voters can’t correct their country’s course at the ballot box, providing competitive authoritarian regimes little incentive to do anything but enrich themselves.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for do anything
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Knowing the corruption in the force runs deeper than Lafferty's crimes but unable to do anything about it, Mickey ultimately ends up resigning.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
In the meantime, party moderates are being tarred with progressive brushes, and Democratic leadership is unwilling or unable to do anything about it.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
Without fair elections, an honest media environment and a credible opposition, voters can’t correct their country’s course at the ballot box, providing competitive authoritarian regimes little incentive to do anything but enrich themselves.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for do anything
Cite this Entry
“Do anything.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do%20anything. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share