can't

UK /kɑːnt/ US [kɐːnt]

verb 3

Definitions

verb

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).

I can’t quite get it to work.

Shut up, can’t you?

To be forbidden to; to be not permitted to.

You can’t enter the hall without a ticket.

To be unwilling to; to not have the desire of; to don’t want to.

Will you come to dinner with us tonight? Can't; already have plans this evening.

Collocations

ADJ.

express, fast, kind, live, long, right, sorry

VERB + CAN'T

pity

CAN'T + NOUN

children, emotions, everything, miracles, themselves

PREP.

from, than, with, without

ADV.

anymore, explicitly, sometimes

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

you can't get a quart into a pint pot

You cannot fit a large object or amount in something smaller.

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.

you can't teach an old dog new tricks

It is impossible to change people's habits, traits, or mindset.

you can't judge a book by its cover

It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.

you can't tell a book by its cover

Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.

Example Bank

I can’t quite get it to work.

Wiktionary

Shut up, can’t you?

Wiktionary

The butler can’t be the murderer — he can't have killed her — because he was in London that evening.

Wiktionary

I can't live that kind of life.

Tatoeba · #1315

Sometimes I can't help showing emotions.

Tatoeba · #1349

I can't tell her now. It's not that simple anymore.

Tatoeba · #1370

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, can't is marked as slang, euphemistic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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