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
There’s not enough to do anything of substance, like a coq au vin or, my favorite, brisket bourguignon.
—
Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The Heat are muddling along with a roster that isn’t good enough to do anything of significance, have no young player with obvious star upside, can’t create significant cap room for at least two more years and owe a future pick to the Hornets from the disastrous Terry Rozier trade.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
His father, who lives in Guangdong, told him to be careful and not to do anything that would be bad for China.
—John Beck, Air Mail, 31 Jan. 2026
Don’t send death threats or do anything to jeopardize somebody’s family.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for do anything
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Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The Heat are muddling along with a roster that isn’t good enough to do anything of significance, have no young player with obvious star upside, can’t create significant cap room for at least two more years and owe a future pick to the Hornets from the disastrous Terry Rozier trade.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
His father, who lives in Guangdong, told him to be careful and not to do anything that would be bad for China.
—John Beck, Air Mail, 31 Jan. 2026
Don’t send death threats or do anything to jeopardize somebody’s family.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
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 15 Feb. 2026.
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