Anyhow means in any case, regardless of what's been said or what difficulties exist. It's a way of moving forward despite obstacles or objections. When your brother says he can't help with the dishes because his favorite show is on, and your mom replies “You're helping anyhow,” she means nothing he's said changes what needs to happen.

The word often signals a shift back to what really matters. If you're explaining why you were late and start listing reasons (missed the bus, forgot your backpack, had to go back), someone might say “Anyhow, you're here now” to move past the excuses and focus on the present moment.

Anyhow can also mean in a careless or haphazard way. If you toss your clothes anyhow into your closet instead of folding them neatly, you're doing it without much care or order. When someone stacks books anyhow on a shelf, they're not organizing them, just putting them wherever they happen to fit.

People also use anyhow to return to a topic after getting sidetracked. If you're telling a story about your field trip, mention something funny your friend said, then say “Anyhow, when we got to the museum,” you're steering back to your main point.