Cannot
/ˈkænɒt/
verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To be unable to; to lack the power, skill, or permission to do something.
/ˈkænɒt/
verbneutralBeginner
General
Expressing inability or lack of permission
I cannot believe it!
💡 Simply: I am not able to.
More Examples
2
She cannot swim.
How It's Used
General
"I cannot attend the meeting."
Formal
"We cannot condone such behavior."
Antonyms
Contraction of "can not". 'Can' derives from Old English *cunnan, meaning 'to know,' while 'not' has Germanic roots.
The contraction 'cannot' has been used for centuries, appearing in early modern English texts.
Memory tip
Think of 'can' as having the ability, and 'not' as negating that ability.
Practice
cantcanotcan't
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written