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

A Home Depot spokesperson told the BBC that the home improvement retailer "cannot legally interfere with federal enforcement agencies, including preventing them from coming into our stores and parking lots".

From BBC

"Every single one of us represented in this room has become dependent on arrangements we did not choose, and right now, arrangements that we cannot control," Vance said.

From BBC

Although Aleys’s mother cannot read, she knows the stories of the saints and relishes embroidering them with “goriest” details to keep her children interested.

From Los Angeles Times

"One cannot expect mangoes from a tamarind tree," he says.

From BBC

I don't understand the reason why he cannot play in the final of the League Cup in March when he has been here a long time.

From Barron's