cannot

American  

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

verb

1. a form of can not.

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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

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cannot More Idioms  

1. see under can't.

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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

He called for those responsible to he held to account so "this kind of activity cannot be repeated".

From BBC

Dual nationals - those who are citizens of both the UK and other countries - cannot get an ETA.

From BBC

As the late economist and presidential adviser Herb Stein famously said, “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Now, Dr. Jo-Anne Brown, PhD, is focused on charting something we cannot see at all: the Milky Way's magnetic field.

From Science Daily

The Hornets’ budget cannot work without those kinds of games, year in and year out.

From Los Angeles Times