Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [kan; unstressed kuh n]
- /kæn; unstressed kən/
- /kæn/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kan; unstressed kuh n]
- /kæn; unstressed kən/
Definitions of can word
- modal verb can You use can when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something which people may make use of if they want to. 3
- modal verb can You use can to indicate that someone has the ability or opportunity to do something. 3
- modal verb can You use cannot to indicate that someone is not able to do something because circumstances make it impossible for them to do it. 3
- modal verb can You use can to indicate that something is true sometimes or is true in some circumstances. 3
- modal verb can You use cannot and can't to state that you are certain that something is not the case or will not happen. 3
- modal verb can You use can to indicate that someone is allowed to do something. You use cannot or can't to indicate that someone is not allowed to do something. 3
Information block about the term
Origin of can
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indicative singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; see ken, know1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Can
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
can popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
can usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for can
verb can
- keep — to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
- bottle — A bottle is a glass or plastic container in which drinks and other liquids are kept. Bottles are usually round with straight sides and a narrow top.
- put up — planned beforehand in a secret or crafty manner: a put-up job.
- commit — If someone commits a crime or a sin, they do something illegal or bad.
- manage — to bring about or succeed in accomplishing, sometimes despite difficulty or hardship: She managed to see the governor. How does she manage it on such a small income?
noun can
- jerry can — Also called blitz can. Military. a narrow, flat-sided, 5-gallon (19-liter) container for fluids, as fuel.
- container — A container is something such as a box or bottle that is used to hold or store things in.
- canister — A canister is a strong metal container. It is used to hold gases or chemical substances.
- tin — taxpayer identification number.
- tin can — can2 (def 1).
Antonyms for can
verb can
- hire — to engage the services of (a person or persons) for wages or other payment: to hire a clerk.
- cannot — Cannot is the negative form of can1.
- permit — to allow to do something: Permit me to explain.
- welcome — a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure: to give someone a warm welcome.
- allow — If someone is allowed to do something, it is all right for them to do it and they will not get into trouble.
noun can
- front — the foremost part or surface of anything.
Top questions with can
- how much housing can i afford?
- how much house can i afford?
- how much home can i afford?
- you can 't always get what you want?
- how much mortgage can i afford?
- where can i buy?
- what words can i make with these letters?
- how soon can you take a pregnancy test?
- what word can i make with these letters?
- you can t always get what you want?
- when can i take a pregnancy test?
- how long can you live without water?
- those who can t?
- who can say where the road goes?
- where can i find?