Cancel — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkan(t)-səl/ can·cel

Meaning & Definition of Cancel

Cancel (verb)

  1. to decide not to conduct or perform (something planned or expected) usually without expectation of conducting or performing it at a later time
  2. to destroy the force, effectiveness, or validity of, annul
  3. to match in force or effect, offset —often used with out

Cancel (noun)

  1. cancellation
  2. a deleted part or passage
  3. a leaf containing matter to be deleted

Cancel (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)

    "please call to cancel your appointment with the dentist if you can't make it"

    similar: abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrub
    related: abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off, recant, retract, take back, withdraw, countermand, reverse, roll back, break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate, hold back, interrupt, suspend, give up, relinquish, surrender
    opposite: continue, keep
    near: engage, pledge, promise, begin, commence, initiate, start, take on, take up, undertake

  2. to put an end to by formal action

    "the agreement can be canceled by either side with a formal written notice"

    similar: abate, abolish, abrogate, annul, avoid, disannul, dissolve, invalidate, negate, null, nullify, quash, repeal, rescind, roll back, strike down, vacate, void, do away with, set aside
    related: countermand, override, overrule, overturn, veto, abort, call, call off, drop, recall, retract, reverse, revoke, suspend, withdraw, ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit, disallow, dismiss, reject, annihilate, break down, eliminate, eradicate, erase, liquidate, remove, throw out, write off
    near: enact, lay down, legislate, establish, found, institute, formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate, pass, ratify, allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse, permit, sanction, warrant, command, decree, mandate, order, prescribe

  3. to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it

    "canceled the check and wrote a new one"

    similar: blue-pencil, cross (out), dele, delete, edit (out), elide, kill, scratch (out), strike (out), stroke (out), x (out)
    related: blot out, efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, obliterate, root (out), rub out, wipe out, bleep, blip, clip, cut, excise, remove, bowdlerize, censor, clean (up), expurgate, launder, redact, red-pencil, abbreviate, crop, shorten, black out, repress, silence, suppress

  4. to destroy all traces of

    "it seemed as though all honor and decency had been canceled by the war's new moral order"

    similar: abolish, annihilate, black out, blot out, clean (up), efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), sweep (away), wipe out
    related: decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage, dismantle, flatten, mow (down), raze, tear down, ruin, total, waste, wreck, blast, blow up, dash, dynamite, smash, atomize, consume, devour, dissolve, fragment, powder, pulverize, shatter, splinter, doom, finish, kill, kill off, terminate, zap, cut, discard, ditch, eject, excise, expel, jettison, oust, throw out
    near: conserve, preserve, protect, save, build, construct, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, shape, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renew, renovate, repair, restore, revamp

Related Entry: Cancel (out) (verb)

Cancel (out) is a different word from Cancel. The synonyms below are for cancel (out), not for cancel.

  1. to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective

    "unfortunately, this one indiscretion will cancel out a long record of accomplishment"

    similar: annul, compensate (for), correct, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, make up (for), negative, neutralize, offset
    related: invalidate, negate, neuter, nullify, atone (for), outbalance, outweigh, redeem, redress, relieve, remedy, override, overrule

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cancel

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cancel:

abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrub, abate, abolish, abrogate, annul, avoid, disannul, dissolve, invalidate, negate, null, nullify, quash, roll back, strike down, vacate, void, blue-pencil, cross (out), dele, delete, edit (out), elide, kill, scratch (out), strike (out), stroke (out), x (out), annihilate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cancel

Words with the opposite meaning of Cancel:

continue, keep

Related Words for Cancel

write off, recant, retract, take back, withdraw, countermand, reverse, break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate, hold back, interrupt, suspend, give up, relinquish, surrender, override, overrule, overturn, veto, ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit, disallow, dismiss

Near Antonyms of Cancel

engage, pledge, promise, begin, commence, initiate, start, take on, take up, undertake, enact, lay down, legislate, establish, found, institute, formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate, pass, ratify, allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse, permit, sanction

Word Forms of Cancel

Inflections: canceled, cancelled, canceling, cancelling, cancels

Derived words: cancelable (adjective), canceler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cancel

Middle English cancellen, from Anglo-French canceller, chanceller, from Late Latin cancellare, from Latin, to make like a lattice, from cancelli (plural), diminutive of cancer lattice, probably alteration of carcer prison

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cancel

Words & Phrases Containing Cancel

cancel culture, cancel each other/one another out, cancel out

Frequently Asked Questions about Cancel

What does "Cancel" mean?

"Cancel" means to decide not to conduct or perform (something planned or expected) usually without expectation of conducting or performing it at a later time. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to decide not to conduct or perform (something planned or expected) usually without expectation of conducting or performing it at a later time. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cancel"?

Other words for "Cancel" include abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall and repeal. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cancel" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cancel"?

There are 148 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cancel". Common alternatives include abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind and revoke.

What is the opposite of "Cancel"?

Antonyms of "Cancel" include continue and keep. Near antonyms include engage, pledge, promise and begin.

How do you use "Cancel" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cancel" in a sentence: "please call to cancel your appointment with the dentist if you can't make it"; "the agreement can be canceled by either side with a formal written notice"; "canceled the check and wrote a new one".

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

"Cancel" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As a B1-level word, "Cancel" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Cancel"?

"Cancel" is pronounced /ˈkan(t)-səl/ and divided into syllables as can·cel.