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.

More idioms and phrases containing cannot

see under can't .

Example Sentences

It is merely one more variant of the "fate-cannot-harm-me-I-have-dined-to-day" wheeze.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not yet tell whether the "might-have-been" had passed into the "cannot-be."

From Project Gutenberg

No, you cannot.-I have heard so much good spoken of you for many years.

From Project Gutenberg

It is doing the What-you-can that will best help you to do the What-you-cannot.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately we cannot make any advance-cannot gain anything anywhere without a corresponding loss somewhere.

From Project Gutenberg