cannot

[kan-ot, ka-not, kuh-]

verb

1. a form of can not.

cannot

/ kæˈnɒt, ˈkænɒt /

verb

1. an auxiliary verb expressing incapacity, inability, withholding permission, etc; can not

Spelling Note

Cannot is sometimes also spelled can not. The one-word spelling is by far the more common: Interest rates simply cannot continue at their present level. The contraction can't is most common in speech and informal writing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannot¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cannot but, have no alternative but to.

   We cannot but choose otherwise.

see under can't.

Example Sentences

Even five World Cups in, she cannot hold back the tears at the national anthem, and looks like she will combust with passion at each wicket she claims.

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Customers who cannot avoid travelling on Sunday are advised to check their journey as there may be cancellations or alterations.

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"He cannot be left alone. If I leave him in the living room, which is a Junior-safe zone apart from the walls, there's still something that he does, or goes for," Jess said.

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Mutual aid has always been necessary: Where politicians look at people and see data, mutual aid networks recognize them as humans with needs that cannot wait.

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“And when I ovulated for the first time, I cannot describe to you how crazy it was. One of the best drugs I’ve ever done.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal