Cancel
/ˈkænsəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo annul, revoke, or declare void.
/ˈkænsəl/
To decide that an arranged event will not take place.
They cancelled the flight due to bad weather.
💡 Simply: To stop something from happening.
More Examples
Please cancel my subscription.
How It's Used
"I had to cancel my appointment because I was sick."
"The company cancelled the project due to budget constraints."
To neutralize or counteract the effect of something.
/ˈkænsəl/
To remove something, often an effect.
The increase in prices was cancelled out by the tax break.
💡 Simply: To make something disappear or have no effect.
How It's Used
"Positive and negative numbers cancel each other out."
Idioms & expressions
cancel each other out
To neutralize or negate each other's effects.
"The positive and negative charges cancelled each other out."
From Middle French canceller, from Latin cancellare "to make lattice-work," from cancelli "lattice, grating." The original sense referred to crossing something out with lines like a lattice.
The word's usage has broadened over time, from its original meaning of 'to strike out' to encompassing various forms of nullification.
Memory tip
Imagine crossing out an event on a calendar.