can

verb (1)

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\ kən, ˈkan

also ˈken; dialectal ˈkin \

past could\ kəd , ˈku̇d

\; present singular & plural can

Definition of can

(Entry 1 of 5)

auxiliary verb

1a : be physically or mentally able to He can lift 200 pounds.

b : know how to She can read.

c —used to indicate possibilityDo you think he can still be alive?Those things can happen. —sometimes used interchangeably with may

d : be inherently able or designed to everything that money can buy

e : be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to Congress can declare war.

f : be permitted by conscience or feeling to can hardly blame her

g : be made possible or probable by circumstances to He can hardly have meant that.

h : be logically or axiologically able to 2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1.

2 : have permission to —used interchangeably with mayYou can go now if you like.

transitive verb

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

2 obsolete : know, understand

intransitive verb

archaic : to have knowledge or skill

can

noun

\ ˈkan

plural cans

Definition of can (Entry 2 of 5)

1 : a usually cylindrical receptacle:

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

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 jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables

d : a vessel for holding liquids specifically : a drinking vessel … in his hand did bear a boozing can … — Edmund Spenser

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 informal : buttocks He needs a kick in the can.

3 informal

a : toilet sitting on the can

b : bathroom sense 1 He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.

4 informal : jail The cops threw him in the can.

5 slang : destroyer sense 2 served on a can during the battle

6 informal : headphone —usually pluralYou don't realize just how noisy it is inside a plane until you put on a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones … . I generally leave the noise-cancelling cans on even when I'm not listening to anything at all—the relative quiet makes a long trip less stressful.— Steven Morgenstern

in the can

of a film or videotape : completed and ready for release

can

verb (2)

\ ˈkan

canned; canning

Definition of can (Entry 3 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : 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

can

abbreviation (1)

Definition of can (Entry 4 of 5)

1 canceled; cancellation

2 cannon

3 canto

Can

abbreviation (2)

variants: or Canad

Definition of Can (Entry 5 of 5)

Canada; Canadian

Other Words from can Synonyms Can vs. May: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about can

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Can vs. May: Usage Guide

Verb (1)

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.

Examples of can in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Then Trayvon Martin was shot and killed after buying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "'I'm leaving and I'm just not coming back': Fed up with racism, Black Americans head overseas," 26 June 2020 There’s nothing like a fresh can of silly string in the summer. — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, "6 Festive Ways to Celebrate Fourth of July That Are Safer Than DIY Fireworks," 22 June 2020 The fire was extinguished in about six minutes with damage reported to the can. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Unruly diners flee after jumping on counter, making threats at Wendy’s: Orange Police Blotter," 19 June 2020 Just then, a can of red spray paint rolls down the bus aisle and lands at Clay's feet. — Martha Sorren, refinery29.com, "13 Reasons Why," 8 June 2020 After blasting pepper spray from a can at those around them, the officers then retreated. — Christopher Harress | Charress@al.com, al, "Police shoot pepper balls at Mobile activists as peaceful protest turns violent," 1 June 2020 Inside the car, investigators found Carrillo's fingerprint on a can of white spray paint, according to the complaint. — Katie Shepherd, Anchorage Daily News, "An officer was murdered during Oakland protests. The killer was a ‘Boogaloo Boy’ using the peaceful marches as cover, feds say.," 17 June 2020 That’s when the man in blue pulled out a can of pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed it. — Fox News, "Albuquerque to send unarmed social workers, not police officers, to some 911 calls," 16 June 2020 Both soaps had several weeks of fresh episodes in the can, but that wasn't enough to get them through the production shutdown. — Lynette Rice, EW.com, "The Bold and the Beautiful set to resume production on Wednesday," 16 June 2020

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.