past could
; present singular & plural can
kəd,
ˈku̇d
; present singular & plural can
1
a
: be physically or mentally able to
He can lift 200 pounds.
b
: know how to
She can read.
c
—used to indicate possibility
Do you think he can still be alive?
Those things can happen.
—sometimes used interchangeably with may
d
: be inherently able or designed to
everything that money can buy
e
: be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to
Congress can declare war.
f
: be permitted by conscience or feeling to
can hardly blame her
g
: be made possible or probable by circumstances to
He can hardly have meant that.
h
: be logically or axiologically able to
2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1.
2
: have permission to
—used interchangeably with may
You can go now if you like.
archaic
: to have knowledge or skill
Can vs. May: Usage Guide
Can and may are most frequently interchangeable in uses denoting possibility; because the possibility of one's doing something may depend on another's acquiescence, they have also become interchangeable in the sense denoting permission. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts.
plural cans
1
: a usually cylindrical receptacle:
a
: a container (as of tinplate) in which products (such as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use
a can of beans
b
: a usually metal typically cylindrical receptacle usually with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding liquid or trash)
c
: a jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables
d
: a vessel for holding liquids
specifically
: a drinking vessel
… in his hand did bear a boozing can … —
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
e
: a recessed lighting fixture
Augment natural light with recessed cans in the ceiling, sconces on side walls, or a table lamp on a shelf …—Jill Connors
Jill Connors2
informal
: buttocks
He needs a kick in the can.
3
informal
a
: toilet
sitting on the can
b
: bathroom sense 1
He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.
4
informal
: jail
The cops threw him in the can.
5
slang
: destroyer sense 2
served on a can during the battle
6
informal
: headphone
—usually plural
You don't realize just how noisy it is inside a plane until you put on a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones … . I generally leave the noise-cancelling cans on even when I'm not listening to anything at all—the relative quiet makes a long trip less stressful.—Steven Morgenstern
Steven Morgenstern
canned; canning
1
a
: to put in a can : preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
can tomatoes
b
: to hit (a golf shot) into the cup
c
: to hit (a shot) in basketball
2
: to discharge from employment
got canned for being late so often
3
slang
: to put a stop or end to
were told to can the chatter
canner
noun
1
canceled; cancellation
2
cannon
3
canto
Examples of can in a Sentence
Noun
He ate the whole can of beans.
the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency
Verb (2)
can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library
the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers
Recent Examples on the Web
The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
The Ministry of Health & Wellness advised Jamaicans to punch holes in old cans and cover water drums to cut down on the mosquito breeding because mosquito control activities wouldn’t happen until well after Melissa.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Synthetic chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), commonly used in refrigerants and aerosol cans, were tearing holes in the ozone layer, letting harmful ultraviolet radiation pour through.
—New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for can
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Ads might come next, but that opens another can of privacy worms.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
The Ministry of Health & Wellness advised Jamaicans to punch holes in old cans and cover water drums to cut down on the mosquito breeding because mosquito control activities wouldn’t happen until well after Melissa.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Synthetic chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), commonly used in refrigerants and aerosol cans, were tearing holes in the ozone layer, letting harmful ultraviolet radiation pour through.
—New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for can
Cite this Entry
“Can.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
can
2 of 3 noun1
: a metal container usually shaped like a cylinder
a soda can
2
: the contents of a can
ate the whole can of beans
Etymology
Helping verb
Old English can "to know, know how to"
Noun
Old English canne "container"
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