can't

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: känt, IPA ^(key): /kɑːnt/ or [kʰɑːnt]

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

• (US) enPR: kănt, IPA ^(key): /kænt/ or /kæn(ʔ)/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (AU) enPR: känt, IPA ^(key): /kaːnt/ or [kʰäːnt]

  • Audio (AUS)

    (file)

Verb

Simple present can

Simple past could

Negative can't

1. (modal) A short way to say cannot:
   1. If you can't do something, you are not able to do that thing.
   2. If you can't do something, you are not allowed to do that thing.

Synonyms

• cannot

Antonyms

• can
• (2nd definition only) must