can

[ kan; unstressed kuh n ]

/ kæn; unstressed kən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR can ON THESAURUS.COM

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could.

to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure.

to know how to: He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it.

to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people.

to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script.

may; have permission to: Can I speak to you for a moment?

to have the possibility: A coin can land on either side.

verb (used with or without object), present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could; imperative can; infinitive can; past participle could; present participle cun·ning.

Obsolete. to know.

Nearby words

camshaft, camus, camus, albert, camwood, caméra stylo, can, can buoy, can do with, can of worms, can opener, can tho

Origin of can

before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indicative singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; see ken, know¹

Can be confusedcan may shall will (see usage note at the current entry) (see usage note at shall)

Usage note

Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility: A power failure can (or may ) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only “to be able” and may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission: Can (or May ) I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or may ) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts: May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not : You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction mayn't is rare.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only : We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but : We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.

Definition for can (2 of 4)

can

[ kan ]

/ kæn /

noun

a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal: a can of soup.

a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.: a trash can.

a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids: water can.

a drinking cup; tankard.

a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.

Slang: Usually Vulgar. toilet; bathroom.

Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week.

Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. buttocks.

cans, Slang. a set of headphones designed to cover the ears. Compare earbuds.

Military Slang.

a depth charge.
a destroyer.

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.

Slang. to dismiss; fire.

Slang. to throw (something) away.

Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!

to record, as on film or tape.

Origin of can

before 1000; Middle English, Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perhaps < West Germanic; compare Late Latin canna small vessel

Definition for can (3 of 4)

can.

canceled.

canon.

canto.

Definition for can (4 of 4)

Can.

Canada.

Canadian.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for can (1 of 3)

can

/ (kæn, unstressed kən) /

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a taskI can run a mile in under four minutes

used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to somethingcan I have a drink?

used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do somethinghe can speak three languages fluently

used as an auxiliary to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihoodmy trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard

Word Origin for can

Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognōscere to know, Sanskrit jānāti he knows; see ken, uncouth

xref

See may 1

British Dictionary definitions for can (2 of 3)

can

/ (kæn) /

noun

a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metala petrol can; beer can

another name (esp US) for tin (def. 2)

Also called: canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold

a slang word for prison

US and Canadian a slang word for toilet or buttocksSee toilet

US navy a slang word for destroyer

navy slang a depth charge

a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film

can of worms informal a complicated problem

carry the can See carry (def. 37)

in the can

(of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc
informal arranged or agreedthe contract is almost in the can

verb cans, canning or canned

to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can

(tr) US slang to dismiss from a job

(tr) US informal to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp in the phrase can it!)

(tr) informal to reject or discard

Word Origin for can

Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled

British Dictionary definitions for can (3 of 3)

Can.

abbreviation for

Canada

Canadian

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

v.1

Old English 1st & 3rd person singular present indicative of cunnan "know, have power to, be able," (also "to have carnal knowledge"), from Proto-Germanic *kunnan "to be mentally able, to have learned" (cf. Old Norse kenna "to know, make known," Old Frisian kanna "to recognize, admit," German kennen "to know," Gothic kannjan "to make known"), from PIE root *gno- (see know).

Absorbing the third sense of "to know," that of "to know how to do something" (in addition to "to know as a fact" and "to be acquainted with" something or someone). An Old English preterite-present verb, its original past participle, couth, survived only in its negation (see uncouth), but cf. could. The present participle has spun off as cunning.

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

Old English canne "a cup, container," from Proto-Germanic *kanna (cf. Old Saxon, Old Norse, Swedish kanna, Middle Dutch kanne, Dutch kan, Old High German channa, German Kanne). Probably an early borrowing from Late Latin canna "container, vessel," from Latin canna "reed," also "reed pipe, small boat;" but the sense evolution is difficult.

Modern "air-tight vessel of tinned iron" is from 1867 (can-opener is from 1877). Slang meaning "toilet" is c.1900, said to be a shortening of piss-can. Meaning "buttocks" is from c.1910.

Word Origin and History for can (2 of 3)

can

v.2

"to put up in cans," 1860, from can (n.1). Sense of "to fire an employee" is from 1905. Related: Canned; canning.

Idioms and Phrases with can

can

In addition to the idioms beginning with can

can do with
canned laughter
can of worms

also see:

as best one can
before you can say Jack Robinson
bite off more than one can chew
carry the can
catch as catch can
game that two can play
get the ax (can)
in the can
more than one can shake a stick at
no can do
you can bet your ass
you can lead a horse to water
you can say that again
you never can tell

Also see undercan't.

can

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could.

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Origin of can

Usage note

Definition for can (2 of 4)

can

noun

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

Origin of can

Definition for can (3 of 4)

can.

Definition for can (4 of 4)

Can.

British Dictionary definitions for can (1 of 3)

can

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

Word Origin for can

xref

British Dictionary definitions for can (2 of 3)

can

noun

verb cans, canning or canned

Word Origin for can

British Dictionary definitions for can (3 of 3)

Can.

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

Word Origin and History for can (2 of 3)

can

Idioms and Phrases with can

can

can

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Definition for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} can (2 of 4)

can

noun

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

Origin of can

Definition for can (3 of 4)

can.

Definition for can (4 of 4)

Can.

British Dictionary definitions for can (1 of 3)

can

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

Word Origin for can

xref

British Dictionary definitions for can (2 of 3)

can

noun

verb cans, canning or canned

Word Origin for can

British Dictionary definitions for can (3 of 3)

Can.

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

Word Origin and History for can (1 of 3)

can

Word Origin and History for can (2 of 3)

can

Idioms and Phrases with can

can

Definition for can (2 of 4)