Can

/ˈkæn/ · verb

Meaning

(auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to..

Definitions by Sense

1. (auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to.
2. (auxiliary verb, defective) To be able to.
3. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
4. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have the potential to; to be possible for (someone or something) to.
5. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) Used to form requests, typically polite.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To know.
7. (India, nonstandard, proscribed) To be (followed by a word like able, possible, allowed). third-person singular simple present indicative of can
8. (Manglish, Singlish, auxiliary or intransitive) To be able to or know how to (do something); an accompanying verb is not required if it is already inferable from context.

Example Sentences

She can speak English, French, and German.

I can play football.

prouyng which eny clerk can or woel or mai make bi eny maner euydence of resoun or of Scripture, and namelich of resoun into the contrarie.

If thou canst awake by four o' the clock, / I prithee call me. Sleep hath seized me wholly.

Can you remember your fifth birthday?

Animals can experience emotions.

Can you hear that?

I can feel the baby moving inside me.

Synonyms for can

Antonyms for can

Related Words

Word Forms

• can
• able
• could
• couth
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• -
• canst
• cannest
• couldst
• couldest
• could'st
• canneth
• canning
• canne
• kin
• c'
• cans
• canned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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