can

verb \ kən , ˈkan also ˈken ; dialectal ˈkin \

Definition of can

past could play \kəd, ˈku̇d\; present singular & plural can

transitive verb

1 obsolete :know, understand

2 archaic :to be able to do, make, or accomplish

intransitive verb

archaic :to have knowledge or skill

auxiliary verb

1 a :know how to

She can read.

b :be physically or mentally able to

He can lift 200 pounds.

c —used to indicate possibility

Do you think he can still be alive?

Those things can happen.

—sometimes used interchangeably with may

d :be permitted by conscience or feeling to

can hardly blame her

e :be made possible or probable by circumstances to

he can hardly have meant that

f :be inherently able or designed to

everything that money can buy

g :be logically or axiologically able to

2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1.

h :be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to

Congress can declare war.

2 :have permission to —used interchangeably with may

You can go now if you like.

can vs. may

Can and may are most frequently interchangeable in uses denoting possibility; because the possibility of one's doing something may depend on another's acquiescence, they have also become interchangeable in the sense denoting permission. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts.

Recent Examples of can from the Web

Bluefin tuna can stretch 3 meters, weigh a metric ton, and reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour.

— kai sinclair, Science | AAAS, "Watch the secret to a tuna’s sharp turns," 20 July 2017
The Duchess finishes before the Prince can even get to step 2.

— melissa minton, Glamour, "Kate Middleton and Prince William Hand-Rolled Pretzels in Germany," 20 July 2017
Louis, said police officers can't be compelled to testify in an outside investigation.

— Bloomberg.com, "Minneapolis Cop Sheds Light on Moments Before His Partner Shot Australian Woman," 19 July 2017
This can be a problem because 'Nook still requires an upkeep to his training.

— jessica hice/indystar, Indianapolis Star, "A dog named Nanook helps calm witnesses in difficult Johnson County cases," 19 July 2017
McCray and Robinson can also rotate across multiple positions, guard and end.

— zach osterman, The Courier-Journal, "Position primer: IU's defensive improvement all starts up front," 19 July 2017
The same principle can also be applied to the individual characters in words.

— lily rothman, Time, "A Century-Old Abraham Lincoln Mystery May Finally Have an Answer," 19 July 2017
Of course, a blow to this sensitive area can be seriously harmful for average Joes (that includes you, Joe Jonas).

— julia naftulin, Health.com, "Joe Jonas’ Core Workout Includes Getting Punched in the Abs, but Does It Really Work?," 19 July 2017
There does not appear to be any data on how many existing charters have a religious association, but the line between church and charter school can be blurry in some cases.

— matt barnum, The Atlantic, "Will Churches Ever Be Allowed to Run Charter Schools?," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'can.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of can

Middle English (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), from Old English; akin to Old High German kan (1st & 3rd singular present indicative) know, am able, Old English cnāwan to know — more at know

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

can

noun \ ˈkan \

Definition of can

plural cans

1 :a usually cylindrical receptacle:

a :a vessel for holding liquids; specifically :a drinking vessel

… in his hand did bear a boozing can …
—Edmund Spenser

b :a usually metal typically cylindrical receptacle usually with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding liquid or trash)

c :a container (as of tinplate) in which products (such as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use

a can of beans

d :a jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables

e :a recessed lighting fixture

Augment natural light with recessed cans in the ceiling, sconces on side walls, or a table lamp on a shelf …
—Jill Connors

2 :jail

The cops threw him in the can.

3 a :toilet

sitting on the can

b :bathroom 1

He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.

4 :buttocks

He needs a kick in the can.

5 :destroyer 2

served on a can during the battle

—

canful

play \ˈkan-ˌfu̇l\ noun

— in the can

of a film or videotape :completed and ready for release

See can defined for English-language learners

Examples of can in a Sentence

He ate the whole can of beans.
the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency

Recent Examples of can from the Web

The adolescent, with vivid and alert eyes and a can-do attitude that is probably more rooted in his relative innocence than in his character, is curious about the world and a good student.

— boyd van hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, "'More' ('Daha'): Film Review | Karlovy Vary 2017," 14 July 2017
Glass containers and aerosol cans, including sunscreen Scooters or personal motorized vehicles.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Leave the guns and drugs at home: Forecastle Festival do's, don'ts and tips," 26 June 2017
One of his most popular images — a pop-art take on a can of beans — can be found on stickers, postcards, kids shirts, baseball t-shirts, and prints.

— laurie delk, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Renowned artist Santos Orellana opens studio to the public," 19 June 2017
Lil Yachty, Vince Staples, DRAM, Vic Mensa, Kamaiyah and Kap G are all teaming with Sprite for the soda's summer ad campaign that will cover its cans and bottles with the up-and-coming rappers' lyrics.

— colin stutz, Billboard, "Lil Yachty, Vince Staples, DRAM & More Team With Sprite for Summer Lyrics Campaign," 19 June 2017
Green’s murder had been staged; a can of Campbell’s soup, no less, was used for gory effect.

— nick bilton, The Hive, "Silicon Valley Murder Mystery: How Drugs and Paranoia Doomed Silk Road," 19 June 2017
In the red brick building of the more than century-old Murree Brewery Co. in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, staff process about 15,000 cans of beer an hour in the technically dry Islamic republic.

— ismail dilawar, Bloomberg.com, "In Prohibition Pakistan, Colonial Brewer Plans Soft Drink Switch," 18 June 2017
One man pushed a baby stroller teetering with bottles of water, jugs of milk and cans of baked beans.

— the washington post, AL.com, "London high-rise fire leaves many dead, injured: 'It was like a horror movie'," 14 June 2017
Ulbricht’s target, a Mormon 47-year-old grandfather in Utah, had to fake his death by pouring a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup on his face to look like blood.

— nitasha tiku, New York Times, "How the Dark Web’s Dread Pirate Roberts Went Down," 12 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of can

Middle English canne, from Old English; akin to Old High German channa

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

can Synonyms

Synonyms

barrel, canister (also cannister), drum, tin

Related Words

bucket, pail; cannikin; tin can

Near Antonyms

outside

can

verb \ ˈkan \

Definition of can

canned; canning

transitive verb

1 a :to put in a can :preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars

can tomatoes

b :to hit (a golf shot) into the cup

c :to hit (a shot) in basketball

2 :to discharge from employment

got canned for being late so often

3 slang :to put a stop or end to

were told to can the chatter

—

canner

noun

Recent Examples of can from the Web

Bluefin tuna can stretch 3 meters, weigh a metric ton, and reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour.

— kai sinclair, Science | AAAS, "Watch the secret to a tuna’s sharp turns," 20 July 2017
The Duchess finishes before the Prince can even get to step 2.

— melissa minton, Glamour, "Kate Middleton and Prince William Hand-Rolled Pretzels in Germany," 20 July 2017
Louis, said police officers can't be compelled to testify in an outside investigation.

— Bloomberg.com, "Minneapolis Cop Sheds Light on Moments Before His Partner Shot Australian Woman," 19 July 2017
This can be a problem because 'Nook still requires an upkeep to his training.

— jessica hice/indystar, Indianapolis Star, "A dog named Nanook helps calm witnesses in difficult Johnson County cases," 19 July 2017
McCray and Robinson can also rotate across multiple positions, guard and end.

— zach osterman, The Courier-Journal, "Position primer: IU's defensive improvement all starts up front," 19 July 2017
The same principle can also be applied to the individual characters in words.

— lily rothman, Time, "A Century-Old Abraham Lincoln Mystery May Finally Have an Answer," 19 July 2017
Of course, a blow to this sensitive area can be seriously harmful for average Joes (that includes you, Joe Jonas).

— julia naftulin, Health.com, "Joe Jonas’ Core Workout Includes Getting Punched in the Abs, but Does It Really Work?," 19 July 2017
There does not appear to be any data on how many existing charters have a religious association, but the line between church and charter school can be blurry in some cases.

— matt barnum, The Atlantic, "Will Churches Ever Be Allowed to Run Charter Schools?," 19 July 2017

First Known Use of can

1859

can

abbreviation

Definition of can

1 canceled; cancellation

2 cannon

3 canto

Can

abbreviation

variants: or Canad

Definition of Can

Canada; Canadian

CAN Defined for English Language Learners

can

noun

Definition of can for English Language Learners

: a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food or drink
: the food or drink that is in a can
: a metal or plastic container that has a removable top and that is used for holding liquid, trash, etc.

CAN Defined for Kids

can

helping verb \ kən , ˈkan \

Definition of can for Students

past could \kəd, ˈku̇d\; present singular & plural can

1 :know how to

We can read.

2 :be able to

I can hear you.

3 :be permitted by conscience or feeling to

They can hardly blame me.

4 :have permission to

You can go now.

5 :to be possible

Can he still be alive?

can

noun \ ˈkan \

Definition of can for Students

1 :a metal container usually shaped like a cylinder

a soda can

2 :the contents of a can

Add a can of tomatoes.

can

verb \ ˈkan \

Definition of can for Students

canned; canning

:to prepare for later use by sealing in an airtight can or jar

Let's can peaches for winter.

Learn More about can

See words that rhyme with can Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for can Spanish Central: Translation of can Nglish: Translation of can for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of can for Arabic speakers

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canful

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can

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canner

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can

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Can

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