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anytime

Etymology and origin of the English word anytime

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1740

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈenitaɪm/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from any and time.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

At whatever time: as one word by 1854 in Etymonline;[2] MWU dates it to 1740.[3] The two-word form is Middle English (early 15th century), and any while, in the same sense, late 14th century.[2]

Semantic evolution

COED treats it as a variant of any time.[4]

Timeline

  • early 15th century – any time, as two words.[2]
  • 1740 – first use (MWU).[3]
  • 1854 – as one word.[2]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. At any time whatever.
  2. At a point in time that is not fixed.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Anytime.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/anytime. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·