verb
Very common
cannot
KA-not
Cannot (verb) means Unable to; not able to. Example: “I cannot attend the meeting on Friday.”
verb
1
Unable to; not able to.
"I cannot attend the meeting on Friday."
"She cannot swim, so she stays in the shallow end."
"We cannot find the keys anywhere, and we have searched the whole house."
2
Not permitted or allowed to.
"You cannot enter the hall without a ticket."
"“If China seeks to disrupt the global order, then China cannot continue to be party to international organizations that seek to preserve that order,” Republican Representative Frank Lucas, the House bill’s sponsor, posted on X."
— Laura Davidson, US House Votes to Restrict China’s Global Ties If Taiwan Threatened (2026)
"You cannot park here between 8 and 6."
"The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation."
— Karen McVeigh, US rules human genes can't be patented (2013)
"Visitors cannot enter the laboratory without wearing a lab coat."
"Children under twelve cannot ride on this fairground ride alone."
How to use cannot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe negative form of "can" — either being unable to do something or not being allowed to.
Common mistake
"Cannot" is usually written as one word in formal English, though "can not" is also acceptable when you want to emphasize the "not."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
cannot afford
cannot help
simply cannot
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Word forms
- Plural
- cannots
Fill the gap
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I _____ attend the meeting on Friday.
Etymology
From Middle English can not, cannot, cannouȝt, etc. (compare Old English ne cann), equivalent to can + not.
Synonyms
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unable to
not able to
incapable of
powerless to
can't
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cannot” mean?
The word “cannot” means unable to; not able to. In plain terms, the negative form of "can" — either being unable to do something or not being allowed to.
How do you pronounce “cannot”?
“Cannot” is pronounced KA-not (/ˈkænɒt/ in IPA).
How do you use “cannot” in a sentence?
Here is “cannot” used in a sentence: “I cannot attend the meeting on Friday.”
What is another word for “cannot”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cannot” include can't.
What part of speech is “cannot”?
“Cannot” is a verb.
Is “cannot” a common word?
“Cannot” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cannot” have?
“Cannot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unable to; not able to.
What is the difference between 'cannot' and 'can't'?
'Cannot' and 'can't' mean exactly the same thing, and both express inability. The only difference is register: 'cannot' is the full, more formal written form, while 'can't' is the contraction used in everyday speech and casual writing. In formal essays or official documents, 'cannot' is generally preferred over the contraction.
Is 'cannot' one word or two?
In modern standard English, 'cannot' is written as one word. The two-word form 'can not' is rare and reserved for special cases, such as adding emphasis or in constructions like 'you can not only sing but also dance.' For ordinary negation, always choose the single word 'cannot.'
What is the difference between 'cannot' and 'may not'?
'Cannot' expresses inability, meaning you lack the power, skill, or possibility to do something. 'May not' usually expresses prohibition or lack of permission, or sometimes uncertainty. 'I cannot swim' means you're unable; 'you may not swim here' means it isn't allowed. In casual speech, though, the two often blur together.
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