Can

Quick meaning: Can is a verb meaning (auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to.

Meaning

(auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to.

More Meanings

1. (auxiliary verb, defective) To be able to.
2. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
3. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have the potential to; to be possible for (someone or something) to.
4. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) Used to form requests, typically polite.
5. (India, nonstandard, proscribed) To be (followed by a word like able, possible, allowed). third-person singular simple present indicative of can
6. (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.
7. (obsolete, transitive) To know.

Example Sentences

Can you hear that?

I can play football.

Animals can experience emotions.

Can you remember your fifth birthday?

Word Forms

• canst
• cannest
• canneth
• canning
• canne
• cans
• canned

Synonyms for can

Depending on context, synonyms include bin, dump, scrap, stifle, axe, sack.

Antonyms for can

Common opposites include cannot, can't, mayn't, engage, employ, hire.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include may, might, facility, get, privy, stern.

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