can

UK /ˈkæn/ US /ˈkæn/

verb 10noun 10name 5intj 2particle 1

Definitions

verb

To know how to.

She can speak English, French, and German.

I can play football.

To be able to.

Can you remember your fifth birthday?

Animals can experience emotions.

May; to be permitted or enabled to.

You can go outside and play when you're finished with your homework.

Can I use your pen?

To have the potential to; to be possible for (someone or something) to.

Can it be Friday already?

Teenagers can really try their parents' patience.

Used to form requests, typically polite.

Can you please come over here?

Can we try that scene again?

intj

OK, sure; indicates approval or acknowledgment.

Used to convey reassurance.

particle

OK(?); used at the end of a question when seeking approval or acknowledgment.

I cut this wire, can?

Can you go collect them or not? The shop is at Jalan Sultan. I’m not free, otherwise I’ll do it myself. Can?

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

metal, tin

rusty

food

My grandmother kept several unopened cans of food in her kitchen cupboard for emergencies.

300g, 250ml, 11oz, etc.

I bought a 330ml can of cola at the supermarket yesterday.

beer, coke

jerry, petrol

oil

paint

watering

aerosol, spray

VERB + CAN

come in

Tomato soup comes in a can if you don't have time to make it from scratch.

open

She opened a can of soup and poured it into a bowl for dinner.

drain, empty

My brother emptied a can of soda and recycled it yesterday.

drink, sip at

fill

She filled the watering can before going out to the garden.

recycle

CAN + NOUN

opener, can-opener

PREP

in a/the ~

~ of

She bought three cans of tomato soup for the camping trip.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint e

noun — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

noun — a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination

noun — the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on

buttocks
nates
arse
butt
backside
bum
buns
fundament

noun — the quantity contained in a can

canful

verb — preserve in a can or tin

verb — terminate the employment of

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

can it

To shut up, to be quiet; to quit doing something; to put an end to something.

Can it, you two! I'm trying to work.

can of worms

A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.

If someone gets a promotion that might not be deserved, it could open up a whole can of worms with the other employees.

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

You can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it.

catch as catch can

To use any available means or methods.

Which being done, the Women run in the dark to catch as catch can; and whatever Lot they light on,[…]

two can play that game

The tactics or strategies of an adversary can also be used against them.

Example Bank

She can speak English, French, and German.

Wiktionary

I can play football.

Wiktionary

prouyng which eny clerk can or woel or mai make bi eny maner euydence of resoun or of Scripture, and namelich of resoun into the contrarie.

Wiktionary

I cut this wire, can?

Wiktionary

Can you go collect them or not? The shop is at Jalan Sultan. I’m not free, otherwise I’ll do it myself. Can?

Wiktionary

It feels like a cheap gimmick to attract environmentalist types, when I don’t see any concrete policies to address that. If you don’t care, then don’t pretend to care leh. If you care, then make sure

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, can is marked as informal, archaic, slang, US, euphemistic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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