cannot

American  

[kan-ot, ka-not, kuh-] / ˈkæn ɒt, kæˈnɒt, kə- /

verb

1. a form of can not.

---

idioms

1. cannot but, have no alternative but to.

   We cannot but choose otherwise.

cannot British  

/ kæˈnɒt, ˈkænɒt /

verb

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

---

cannot More Idioms  

1. see under can't.

---

Spelling

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.

Etymology

Origin of cannot

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Compare meaning

How does cannot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• can't vs. cannot

Example Sentences

“Today’s plea is a step toward justice, but it cannot undo the additional trauma inflicted on families who were already dealing with loss.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

One challenge is that piezoelectric resonators physically vibrate, which means they cannot be attached to circuit boards using standard soldering techniques.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

While acknowledging the challenge the change presents for the bird food industry, the charity says "we cannot continue as usual".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“To be clear,” he added, “apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

"And the trails you cannot find in the snow. Holes in the ice and swamps. Moose are the worst. But today you need not worry about them. I will speak to my friend, the Raven."

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell