couldn't
Americancontraction
Usage
See care, contraction.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The children were initially looked after by Nelly and Ernst, but were placed in an orphanage when it became clear that their aunt and uncle couldn’t afford their care.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Of course, famed director and Knicks fan fixture Spike Lee couldn’t stay out of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
But on Jan. 26, 2025, less than a week after Donald Trump took office, BOP staff told her she couldn’t get hormones any more.
From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026
She said: "The children absolutely loved it. The standout moment was learning that Tim Peake had run a marathon on the International Space Station. They couldn't believe it."
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
The sky couldn’t be bluer or the water calmer.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
