can

1 of 5

verb (1)

kən,

ˈkan 

 also  ˈken;

 dialectal  ˈkin

past could

kəd,

ˈku̇d  ; present singular & plural can

auxiliary verb

1

a

: be physically or mentally able to

He can lift 200 pounds.

b

: know how to

She can read.

c

—used to indicate possibility

Do 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 may

You 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 vs. May: Usage Guide

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.

can

2 of 5

noun

ˈkan 

plural cans

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 plural

You 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

canful

ˈkan-ˌfu̇l 

noun

can

3 of 5

verb (2)

ˈkan 

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

can

4 of 5

abbreviation (1)

1

canceled; cancellation

2

cannon

3

canto

Can

5 of 5

abbreviation (2)

variants or Canad

Canada; Canadian

Phrases

in the can

of a film or videotape : completed and ready for release

Synonyms

Noun

• barrel
• canister
• cannister
• drum
• tin

Verb (2)

• break
• break off
• break up
• cease
• cut off
• cut out
• desist (from)
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• give over
• halt
• knock off
• lay off
• leave off
• pack (up or in)
• quit
• shut off
• stop

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

There isn’t enough food to go around either, said the doctor, who declined to give his name to protect his identity, adding that each family is given cheese and three tuna cans every couple of days, regardless of their numbers. —Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

Just as Jasper Johns used the flag and beer cans to critique our ideas of the sacred and the disposable, Saar uses objects to address the power of the image in America. —Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023

The room is cluttered with memorabilia — a can of pinto beans from his family’s renowned meals with local politicians, dubbed Bean dinners; bumper stickers for the current juvenile court judge; figurines of elephants; and political tchotchkes. —Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 16 Nov. 2023

El Chapo famously attempted to ship half a million dollars’ worth of cocaine into the United States from Mexico packed in jalapeño cans. —Deborah Bonello, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

She was left lying by the front door, where a staff member found Ms. Antonio on the ground holding a can of alcohol, the report said. —Jack Healy, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023

Last October, two people in Just Stop Oil’s bright orange T-shirts opened cans of tomato soup and threw the liquid on to Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square before gluing their hands to the wall. —Mallory Moench, TIME, 11 Nov. 2023

There’s still enough room inside to keep up to six standard-sized cans of soda. —Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023

Last year, for instance, two activists affiliated with the group threw cans of tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing can

• all one can do
• all (that) one can do
• as far as the eye can see
• as best one can
• ash can
• as far/near as I can tell
• before one can blink
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• can be forgiven
• can/could do without
• can of worms
• can make nothing of
• can it
• bite off more than one can chew
• can hardly wait
• carry the can
• (can) trace one's history (back) to
• can opener
• catch-as-catch-can
• can take a joke
• I (can) promise you
• how can/could
• garbage can
• looks can be deceiving/deceptive
• more than someone can shake a stick at
• for as long as one can remember
• one (can) bet one's ass
• no can do
• open a can of worms
• the can
• walk before one can run
• trash can
• tin can
• the least someone can do
• watering can
• where can (someone) (possibly) be
• you can say that again
• who can tell
• shit-can
• can-do
• spray can
• jerry can
• in the can

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• all one can do
• all (that) one can do
• as far as the eye can see
• as best one can
• ash can
• as far/near as I can tell
• before one can blink
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• can be forgiven
• can/could do without
• can of worms
• can make nothing of
• can it
• bite off more than one can chew
• can hardly wait
• carry the can
• (can) trace one's history (back) to
• can opener
• catch-as-catch-can
• can take a joke
• I (can) promise you
• how can/could
• garbage can
• looks can be deceiving/deceptive
• more than someone can shake a stick at
• for as long as one can remember
• one (can) bet one's ass
• no can do
• open a can of worms
• the can
• walk before one can run
• trash can
• tin can
• the least someone can do
• watering can
• where can (someone) (possibly) be
• you can say that again
• who can tell
• shit-can
• can-do
• spray can
• jerry can
• in the can

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Kids Definition

can

1 of 3 helping verb

kən 

(ˈ)kan

past could kəd 

(ˈ)ku̇d

; present singular & plural can

1

a

: know how to

we can read

b

: be able to

I can hear you

c

: be permitted by conscience or feeling to

they can hardly blame you

d

: have the power or right to

2

: have permission to : may

you can go now

can

2 of 3 noun

ˈkan 

1

: a metal container usually shaped like a cylinder

a soda can

2

: the contents of a can

ate the whole can of beans

can

3 of 3 verb

ˈkan 

canned; canning

1

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

can tomatoes

2

: to dismiss from a job : fire

3

slang : to put a stop or end to

canner noun

Etymology

Helping verb

Old English can "to know, know how to"

Noun

Old English canne "container"