anyhow

From any +‎ how.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛn.i.haʊ/, /ˈæn.i.haʊ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊ

anyhow (not comparable)

1. (manner) In any way or manner whatever.
2. (conjunctive) In any case. Used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement.

   Anyhow, he is dead now.

   I think they’re asleep; anyhow, they’re quiet.

3. Without care or tidiness; recklessly, negligently or randomly.
   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     It was a woman’s clothing, beyond a doubt, all thrown in anyhow, — as if the person who had placed it there had been in a desperate hurry.

4. (Singapore, Singlish, by extension) Thoughtlessly, randomly, without careful consideration.

   Compare Hokkien 亂／乱 (loān) and 四散 (sì-sòaⁿ).

   • 1994, Michael Chiang, “Private Parts”, in Private Parts & Other Play Things, →ISBN, page 270:

     No lah! Don’t anyhow say! But you also look so different, Vasoo. First time I’ve seen you without your uniform!

   • 2024, Jojo Chia, Afternoon Yuan Yang Club, Epigram Books, →ISBN:

     Don’t anyhow, please. Told you guys he’s just a friend.

anyhow (not comparable)

1. (Singapore, Singlish, predicative) Random, careless, offhand, disorderly; done without thought or consideration.

   Synonym: (Singapore, vulgar) half-fuck

   • 2022 January 25, Jean Wong, Cassandra Nerva, Jerald Ang, “34 Singlish Phrases to Know Before Visiting Singapore”, in tripzilla.com‎^[1], archived from the original on 30 September 2024:

     Rabak, to refer to something messed up: Eh bro, your hairdresser anyhow sia, your hair damn rabak.

   • 2024 December 13, gwbasic, “Is it all the food influencers cannot make it?”, in HardwareZone Forums:

     Even the newspaper recommendation oso anyhow one.

• (in any way or manner, carelessly): any old how
• (in any case): anyway, anyhoo, anywho; see also Thesaurus:regardless

• anyhow whack (Singlish)

• anywho