Anymore

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˌɛn.iˈmɔː/

Definitions

1. at the present time, in contrast to a previous situation that has changed or ended
2. at the current moment, indicating a change from prior circumstances that no longer hold true
3. in the contemporary context, emphasizing a shift from earlier conditions that are no longer applicable

Etymology: "Anymore" is a compound of "any" and "more," a combination that reads simply enough, yet the sense it carries today took shape gradually. Originally the phrase meant something like "any more" in the sense of "any further" or "any longer," so that a sentence such as "he could not stand it any more" meant that no additional endurance was available. The notion of a change from earlier circumstances grew out of that negative, time-limited use. The surprise lies in the spelling. Today it is written as one word in most contexts, but the two-word form "any more" remains standard in many constructions, and the difference in meaning is real. , stays separate. The single-word form is therefore a fixed adverb with a specific function, reserved for negative or interrogative contexts describing a state that has stopped.

Synonyms: no longer, nowadays

Antonyms: still, yet