"can't" meaning in English

See can't in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /kɑːnt/ (note: Received Pronunciation, some US speakers), [kʰɑ̃ːnt] (note: Received Pronunciation, some US speakers), /kænt/ (note: General American, Canada, some Irish speakers), [kʰæn(ʔ)] (note: General American, Canada, some Irish speakers), [kʰẽə̃nʔ ~ kʰɪ̃ə̃nʔ] [æ-tensing], [kʰẽɪ̃nt] [Southern-American-English], [kʰẽɪ̃n(ʔ)] [Southern-American-English], /kaːnt/ [General-Australian, New-Zealand], [kʰä̃ːnt] [General-Australian, New-Zealand], [kʰä̃ːnʔ] [General-Australian, New-Zealand], /kaːɳʈ/ [Indian-English] Audio: En-uk-can't.ogg [UK], en-us-can't.ogg [US], en-US-southern-dialectical-can't.ogg [Southern-US], en-au-can't.ogg [Australia]
enPR: känt [Indian-English], kănt [Indian-English] Rhymes: -ɑːnt, -ænt, -eɪnt Etymology: can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier. Etymology templates: {{suffix|en|can|n't}} can + -n't Head templates: {{head|en|verb form}} can't
  1. Cannot (negative auxiliary); is unable to; does not have the ability to.
    Sense id: en-can't-en-verb-v9sySDPD
  2. Is forbidden to; is not permitted to.
    Sense id: en-can't-en-verb-5mV8exb8
  3. Often followed by be: is logically impossible.
    Sense id: en-can't-en-verb-KUCTuux9 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms suffixed with -n't, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 12 5 83 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 14 8 78 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -n't: 17 13 70 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 14 10 76
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: ca'n't [obsolete] Derived forms: you can't say fairer than that Coordinate_terms: couldn't, mayn't, mightn't, oughtn't, shan't, shouldn't, won't, wouldn't

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for can't meaning in English (6.0kB)

{
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "couldn't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "mayn't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "mightn't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "oughtn't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "shan't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "shouldn't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "won't"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "wouldn't"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "you can't say fairer than that"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "can",
        "3": "n't"
      },
      "expansion": "can + -n't",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "can't",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I can’t quite get it to work.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Tuchanka",
          "text": "Shepard: Mordin, walk away.\nMordin: Can't do that, Shepard.\nShepard: I don't have a choice here. Walk away, or I will fire.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Cannot (negative auxiliary); is unable to; does not have the ability to."
      ],
      "id": "en-can't-en-verb-v9sySDPD",
      "links": [
        [
          "Cannot",
          "cannot"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        },
        {
          "word": "have to"
        },
        {
          "word": "must"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "You can’t enter the hall without a ticket.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Is forbidden to; is not permitted to."
      ],
      "id": "en-can't-en-verb-5mV8exb8",
      "links": [
        [
          "forbid",
          "forbid"
        ],
        [
          "permit",
          "permit"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        },
        {
          "word": "have to"
        },
        {
          "word": "must"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "12 5 83",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 8 78",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "17 13 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -n't",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 10 76",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The butler can’t be the murderer because he was in London that evening.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1750, W[illiam] Ellis, The Country Housewife's Family Companion: Or Profitable Directions for Whatever Relates to the Management and Good Œconomy of the Domestick Concerns of a Country Life, According to the Present Practice of the Country Gentleman's, the Yeoman's, the Farmer's, &c. Wives, in the Counties of Hertford, Bucks, and Other Parts of England: Shewing how Great Savings may be Made in Housekeeping: … With Variety of Curious Matters … The Whole Founded on Near Thirty Years Experience, London: Printed for James Hodges, at the Looking-glass, facing St. Magnus Church, London-Bridge; and B. Collins, bookseller, at Salisbury, →OCLC, page 157",
          "text": "To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Often followed by be: is logically impossible."
      ],
      "id": "en-can't-en-verb-KUCTuux9",
      "links": [
        [
          "be",
          "be"
        ],
        [
          "impossible",
          "impossible"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/kɑːnt/",
      "note": "Received Pronunciation, some US speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰɑ̃ːnt]",
      "note": "Received Pronunciation, some US speakers"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɑːnt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kænt/",
      "note": "General American, Canada, some Irish speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰæn(ʔ)]",
      "note": "General American, Canada, some Irish speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽə̃nʔ ~ kʰɪ̃ə̃nʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "æ-tensing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ænt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽɪ̃nt]",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-American-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽɪ̃n(ʔ)]",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-American-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪnt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kaːnt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰä̃ːnt]",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰä̃ːnʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kaːɳʈ/",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "cant"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "Kant (in some dialects)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "En-uk-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/En-uk-can%27t.ogg/En-uk-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/En-uk-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/En-us-can%27t.ogg/En-us-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/En-us-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-US-southern-dialectical-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/40/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/15/En-au-can%27t.ogg/En-au-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/En-au-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "känt",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "enpr": "kănt",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "ca'n't"
    }
  ],
  "word": "can't"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 1-syllable words",
    "English auxiliary verb forms",
    "English contractions",
    "English defective verbs",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English non-lemma forms",
    "English terms suffixed with -n't",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verb forms",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪnt",
    "Rhymes:English/ænt",
    "Rhymes:English/ænt/1 syllable",
    "Rhymes:English/ɑːnt",
    "Rhymes:English/ɑːnt/1 syllable"
  ],
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "word": "couldn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "mayn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "mightn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "oughtn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "shan't"
    },
    {
      "word": "shouldn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "won't"
    },
    {
      "word": "wouldn't"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "you can't say fairer than that"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "can",
        "3": "n't"
      },
      "expansion": "can + -n't",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "can't",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I can’t quite get it to work.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Tuchanka",
          "text": "Shepard: Mordin, walk away.\nMordin: Can't do that, Shepard.\nShepard: I don't have a choice here. Walk away, or I will fire.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Cannot (negative auxiliary); is unable to; does not have the ability to."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Cannot",
          "cannot"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        },
        {
          "word": "have to"
        },
        {
          "word": "must"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "You can’t enter the hall without a ticket.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Is forbidden to; is not permitted to."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "forbid",
          "forbid"
        ],
        [
          "permit",
          "permit"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "be able to"
        },
        {
          "word": "can"
        },
        {
          "word": "have to"
        },
        {
          "word": "must"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The butler can’t be the murderer because he was in London that evening.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1750, W[illiam] Ellis, The Country Housewife's Family Companion: Or Profitable Directions for Whatever Relates to the Management and Good Œconomy of the Domestick Concerns of a Country Life, According to the Present Practice of the Country Gentleman's, the Yeoman's, the Farmer's, &c. Wives, in the Counties of Hertford, Bucks, and Other Parts of England: Shewing how Great Savings may be Made in Housekeeping: … With Variety of Curious Matters … The Whole Founded on Near Thirty Years Experience, London: Printed for James Hodges, at the Looking-glass, facing St. Magnus Church, London-Bridge; and B. Collins, bookseller, at Salisbury, →OCLC, page 157",
          "text": "To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Often followed by be: is logically impossible."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "be",
          "be"
        ],
        [
          "impossible",
          "impossible"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/kɑːnt/",
      "note": "Received Pronunciation, some US speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰɑ̃ːnt]",
      "note": "Received Pronunciation, some US speakers"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɑːnt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kænt/",
      "note": "General American, Canada, some Irish speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰæn(ʔ)]",
      "note": "General American, Canada, some Irish speakers"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽə̃nʔ ~ kʰɪ̃ə̃nʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "æ-tensing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ænt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽɪ̃nt]",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-American-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰẽɪ̃n(ʔ)]",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-American-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪnt"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kaːnt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰä̃ːnt]",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[kʰä̃ːnʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian",
        "New-Zealand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/kaːɳʈ/",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "cant"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "Kant (in some dialects)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "En-uk-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/En-uk-can%27t.ogg/En-uk-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/En-uk-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/En-us-can%27t.ogg/En-us-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/En-us-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-US-southern-dialectical-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/40/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/En-US-southern-dialectical-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-can't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/15/En-au-can%27t.ogg/En-au-can%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/En-au-can%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "känt",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "enpr": "kănt",
      "tags": [
        "Indian-English"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "ca'n't"
    }
  ],
  "word": "can't"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-01 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.