Can — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun abbreviation /kən/ (verb) /ˈkan/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Can

Can (verb)

  1. be physically or mentally able to
  2. know how to
  3. —used to indicate possibility —sometimes used interchangeably with may
  4. to put in a can, preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
  5. to hit (a golf shot) into the cup
  6. to hit (a shot) in basketball

Can (noun)

  1. a usually cylindrical receptacle:
  2. a container (as of tinplate) in which products (such as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use
  3. 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)

Can (abbreviation)

  1. canceled; cancellation
  2. cannon
  3. canto
  4. Canada; Canadian

Can (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library"

    similar: break, break off, break up, cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop, have done with, put the kibosh on
    related: complete, conclude, finish, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back, pause, stay, abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

  2. to let go from office, service, or employment

    "the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers"

    similar: ax, bounce, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off, send packing, show (someone) the door
    related: downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
    opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
    near: keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

Can (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a metal container in the shape of a cylinder

    "the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency"

    similar: barrel, canister, drum, tin
    related: bucket, pail, cannikin, tin can

  2. a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody

    "the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can"

    similar: bastille, big house (slang), bridewell, brig, calaboose, clink (slang), cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, joint (slang), jug, lockup, nick (British slang), pen, penitentiary, pokey (slang), prison, quod (British slang), slam, slammer, stir (slang), stockade, tolbooth (Scottish)
    related: bull pen, cage, cell, hole, tank, block, ward, glasshouse (British), guardhouse, hulk(s), concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp, dungeon, keep, oubliette, reformatory, reform school, training school
    near: outside

  3. a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste

    "I excused myself and asked if I could use the can"

    similar: bath, bathroom, bog (British), cloakroom (British), comfort station, convenience (chiefly British), head, john, latrine, lavatory, loo (chiefly British), potty, restroom, toilet, washroom, water closet
    related: commode, pan (British), pot, garderobe, jakes, outhouse, privy, half bath, powder room, ladies (chiefly British), ladies' room, men's room

  4. the part of the body upon which someone sits

    "he fell on the ice and landed on his can"

    similar: backside, behind, booty (slang), bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, caboose, cheeks, derriere, duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, heinie (slang), hunkers, keister (slang), nates, posterior, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, tush (slang)
    related: beam, stern, moon (slang)

Related Entry: Catch-as-catch-can (adjective)

Catch-as-catch-can is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for catch-as-catch-can, not for can.

  1. lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

    "we're always having drop-in guests at our beachfront cottage, and sleeping arrangements tend to be catch-as-catch-can"

    similar: aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray
    related: accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, scattershot, shotgun, irregular, odd, sporadic, spot, directionless, objectless, purposeless, indiscriminate, unsystematic, undirected, disorderly, disorganized, undiscriminating, unselective
    opposite: methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized
    near: established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady, constant, continuous, even, arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned, aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful

Related Entry: Tin can (noun)

Tin can is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for tin can, not for can.

  1. as in can, bucket

    similar: barrel, can, canister, drum, tin, bucket, pail, cannikin

Related Entry: Watering can (noun)

Watering can is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for watering can, not for can.

  1. as in watering pot

    similar: watering pot, kettle, teakettle, beaker, cruse, vessel, bottle, canteen, cup, fiasco, flask, jorum, mug, stein, stoup, tankard, bucket, pail, pot, carafe, decanter, ewer, flagon, jug, pitcher

Related Entry: Bite (verb)

Bite is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for bite, not for can.

  1. to be objectionable or unsatisfactory

    "man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend"

    similar: smell, stink, suck (informal + sometimes impolite)
    opposite: rock (slang), rule (slang)

Related Entry: Bite (at) (verb)

Bite (at) is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for bite (at), not for can.

  1. to consume or wear away gradually

    "the waves were biting at the sand castle I had worked so hard on"

    similar: corrode, eat, erode, fret, gnaw, nibble
    related: break down, break up, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, decimate, destroy, devastate, ruin, waste, wreck
    near: freshen, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive

Related Entry: Bite (on) (verb)

Bite (on) is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for bite (on), not for can.

  1. to crush or grind with the teeth

    "she tends to bite on her pencils when she thinks hard"

    similar: champ, chaw, chew, chomp (on), crunch (on), gnaw (on), masticate, nibble, sink one's teeth into
    related: ruminate, munch, nosh, snack, consume, eat, ingest, swallow, bolt, devour, gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scarf, scoff, wolf, nip, peck (at), pick (at), gum, mumble

Related Entry: Bitten (verb)

Bitten is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for bitten, not for can.

  1. to be objectionable or unsatisfactory

    "man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend"

    similar: smelled, stunk, sucked (informal + sometimes impolite)
    opposite: rocked (slang), ruled (slang)

Related Entry: Bit (verb)

Bit is a different word from Can. The synonyms below are for bit, not for can.

  1. to be objectionable or unsatisfactory

    "man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend"

    similar: smelled, stank, sucked (informal + sometimes impolite)
    opposite: rocked (slang), ruled (slang)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Can

The most common words with a similar meaning to Can:

Slang: big house, clink, joint, pokey, stir, booty, heinie, keister, tush
British slang: nick, quod
British: bog, cloakroom
Chiefly British: convenience, loo
Scottish: tolbooth
break, break off, break up, cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop, ax, bounce, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off, have done with, put the kibosh on, send packing, show (someone) the door, barrel, canister, drum

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Can

Words with the opposite meaning of Can:

employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Related Words for Can

complete, conclude, finish, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back

Near Antonyms of Can

carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir, keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit, outside

Word Forms of Can

Inflections: could, cans, canned, canning

Derived words: canful (noun), canner (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Can

Middle English (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), from Old English; akin to Old High German kan (1st & 3rd singular present indicative) know, am able, Old English cnāwan to know know

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Can

Words & Phrases Containing Can

canst, can-do, can of worms

Frequently Asked Questions about Can

What does "Can" mean?

"Can" means be physically or mentally able to. As an a verb, a noun and an abbreviation, it is defined as: be physically or mentally able to. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Can"?

Other words for "Can" include break, break off, break up, cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from) and discontinue. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Can" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Can"?

There are 207 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Can". Common alternatives include break, break off, break up, cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop and end.

What is a slang word for "Can"?

Slang words for "Can" include big house, clink, joint, pokey, stir and booty.

What is the opposite of "Can"?

Antonyms of "Can" include employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on) and take on. Near antonyms include carry on, continue, follow through (with) and keep up.

How do you use "Can" in a sentence?

Examples of "Can" in a sentence: "can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library"; "the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers"; "the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency".

Is "Can" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Can" can be used as a verb, a noun and an abbreviation, depending on the context.

Is "Can" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Can" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.