can

verb (1)

\kən,

ˈkan also ˈken; dialectal ˈkin\

past could\kəd,

ˈku̇d \; present singular & plural can

Definition of can

(Entry 1 of 5)

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

1a : 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

noun

\ˈkan

plural cans

Definition of can (Entry 2 of 5)

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.

3a : toilet sitting on the can

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

4 : buttocks He needs a kick in the can.

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

6 : 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

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 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

The fire department reported finding a can of lighter fluid at the base of the stairs. — New York Times, "A Fire Killed 32 at a New Orleans Gay Bar. This Artist Didn’t Forget.," 9 July 2018 Last Friday, the Walmart in Beeville, Texas, placed an innocuous Facebook advertisement for cans of baked beans. — Alyssa Newcomb /, NBC News, "Bush's beans and a reverend named Clinton: Facebook's political ad filter misfires," 3 July 2018 No one had invented a bomb smaller than a can of beans, which would be impossible for an animal the size of a mouse to carry. — Lucy Cooke, ajc, "US military is interested in bats as possible defenders against bioweapons," 3 July 2018 No one had invented a bomb smaller than a can of beans, which would be impossible for an animal the size of a mouse to carry. — Lucy Cooke, Washington Post, "The batty, explosive history of bats in the military — and why this new idea just might work," 2 July 2018 In front of Shelton was a can of Diet Dr Pepper, and arrayed around the table were the members of his increasingly nervous senior staff. — Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, "The New Arms Race Threatening to Explode in Space," 26 June 2018 Visitors leave mementos on the wire box enclosures that surround the crosses: Flowers, cans of Copenhagen, fire department patches. — Anne Ryman, azcentral, "Granite Mountain Hotshots: An untold story from the day 19 firefighters died," 23 June 2018 But leave it to Chrissy Teigen to offer up the ultimate summer beauty solution: When in doubt, act like the new mom and pick up a can of dry shampoo and slip on an attention-grabbing headband for a 30-second hair strategy worth stealing. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "The 10 Best Beauty Looks: Week of June 18, 2018," 19 June 2018 The system called Threat Extinguisher, alerts students and local authorities once a can of pepper spray has been removed from its base, WFMJ explained. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Ohio School District to Install Pepper Spray “Threat Extinguisher” System," 13 July 2018

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.

History and Etymology for can

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

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