Usage of Cannot and Can't
In published, edited English prose, cannot is far more common than can not. An exception is usually made when the not following can is part of another phrase, such as "not only"; in such instances can not is the usual choice.
We can not only hope but also expect to succeed.
Can't has the same meaning as cannot, but as with contractions in general, it is somewhat informal.
Examples of cannot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These organizations often serve as lifelines, operating in regions where governments cannot—or will not—reach.
—
Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That independence has allowed Carlson to shape political narratives in ways mainstream journalists often cannot—or will not.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Just like those unsavory relatives, leaders cannot—and should not—allow the behaviors of a certain few to hijack the culture for all.
—Shannon Gabriel, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
The reader can see what the characters cannot—what forced migration and residential schools have prevented them from seeing and sharing.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Business leaders cannot—and should not try to—solve complicated geopolitical problems.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2023
Experience—their ability to observe and draw connections where algorithms cannot—gives these forecasters an edge that continues to outperform the glitzy weather machines in the highest-stake situations.
—Meghan Herbst, Wired, 4 Jan. 2022
Many researchers say algorithms cannot—yet, anyway—consistently read the subtleties of human expressions in different individuals, which may not match up with stereotypical internal feelings.
—John McQuaid, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2021
As great of a genius as Einstein was, his equations cannot—do not—account for all of the mysteries of the universe.
—Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
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Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
That independence has allowed Carlson to shape political narratives in ways mainstream journalists often cannot—or will not.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Just like those unsavory relatives, leaders cannot—and should not—allow the behaviors of a certain few to hijack the culture for all.
—Shannon Gabriel, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
The reader can see what the characters cannot—what forced migration and residential schools have prevented them from seeing and sharing.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Business leaders cannot—and should not try to—solve complicated geopolitical problems.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2023
Experience—their ability to observe and draw connections where algorithms cannot—gives these forecasters an edge that continues to outperform the glitzy weather machines in the highest-stake situations.
—Meghan Herbst, Wired, 4 Jan. 2022
Many researchers say algorithms cannot—yet, anyway—consistently read the subtleties of human expressions in different individuals, which may not match up with stereotypical internal feelings.
—John McQuaid, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2021
As great of a genius as Einstein was, his equations cannot—do not—account for all of the mysteries of the universe.
—Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Cannot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannot. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cannot
can·not
ˈkan-(ˌ)ät 
kə-ˈnät,
ka-ˈnät
: can not
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