how can/could

idiom

1

—used to show that one thinks that someone has done or said something shocking or wrong

"We don't need his help anyway." "How can you say that?!"

How could she just walk away from her children like that?

2

—used to express doubt that something will happen, is possible, etc.

How could I (ever/possibly) leave this job?

How can I (ever/possibly) thank you?

3

informal

—used to show disappointment in someone's actions, thoughts, words, etc.

He threw away my gift? Oh, how could he?

Examples of how can/could in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If that happened to someone as powerful as Schumer, how could anyone else possibly feel comfortable stepping up to do the right thing against the interests of the party extremes? —Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025

So, how can a normal, busy, not-in-charge-of-the-world person financially protect themselves in the midst of all the churn? —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 1 May 2025

Boosted employee engagement and retention: Amid a growing work-from-home (WFH) culture, how can businesses maintain a strong company culture when employees are physically separated? —Shawn Pierce, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

And how could Underwood’s decision to perform at President Trump’s Inauguration have anything to do with Swift? —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 8 Apr. 2025