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

See Examples For:

cannot

Paramount has said it will be prepared to move its operations to Tennessee in October if it cannot reach an accord with the suing states.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

"The wavefunction is a fundamental quantity in quantum mechanics, yet it cannot be directly observed or measured," explains Professor Stefan Mathias at the University of Göttingen.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

If Walters goes, Ohtani could demand a new contract with terms that a new cash-strapped owner cannot afford.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Permission to stay can be terminated with appropriate notice, typically 10 days, although you cannot use threats, force, or an unlawful lockout.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

These connections are so fine that they cannot be seen through a conventional light microscope.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman