ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Can't

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /kɑːnt/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Can't is a verb meaning To be forbidden to; to be not permitted to.

Meaning

To be forbidden to; to be not permitted to.

More Meanings

  1. Cannot (negative auxiliary); be unable to; not have the ability to (whether due to lacking relevant strength or skill or knowledge or supplies, or due to logical impossibility, etc).
  2. (slang, euphemistic) To be unwilling to; to not have the desire of; to don’t want to.

Example Sentences

Shut up, can’t you?
I can’t quite get it to work.
You can’t enter the hall without a ticket.
Will you come to dinner with us tonight? Can't; already have plans this evening.

Word Forms

Antonyms for can't

Common opposites include can, must.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cannot, cant, impossible, inadmissible, unobtainable, volatility.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.