cannotcan‧not /ˈkænət, -nɒt $ -nɑːt/ ●●● W1 modal verb 
Mrs Armstrong regrets that she cannot accept your kind invitation.2 cannot but formal used to say that you feel you have to do something: One cannot but admire her determination.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Many people cannot find affordable housing.
- And to know these, the artist cannot force his own intentions upon nature.
- Excellence in defense management will not and cannot emerge by legislation or directive.
- How they will look when that has been done cannot now be foreseen, but they will look different.
- Passive-aggressive people cannot openly express angry emotions and deny feelings of resentment and anger.
- Some observers can see it with the naked eye under ideal conditions, though I certainly cannot.
- Sound waves can go where light cannot.
- Trim fingernails if the resident cannot.
Longman Language Activatorwhen a situation makes it impossible for you to do something
· Look, I know I said I'd come, but I can't.can't/cannot do something · I can't go out to lunch today, I have too much work to do.· The doctor cannot see you without a prior appointment.
- use this especially in the past or future tense: · She has a meeting with her boss tomorrow, so she won't be able to come.· With everything that's been happening at the office lately, I haven't been able to spend much time at home.
use this especially when you want to be polite about the fact that someone cannot do something: · I'm sorry, but Mrs Jones is unable to see you now. Please come back at 6 o'clock.· The Pope was unable to attend, due to illness.
used especially when you want to give an excuse or reason for not doing something: · I have a full schedule all next week, so I'm afraid it won't be possible for me to see you then.· We had so many other orders that it wasn't possible to deliver yours any earlier.
to be unable to do something · "Will you help me move this?" "I'm sorry, I can't - my back's still giving me trouble."can't/cannot do something · Louise can't see anything without her glasses.· He couldn't remember where he had left the car.· I could never have climbed that ridge - I'm too out of shape.· Scientists still cannot explain exactly how the virus reproduces.· Sarah could not understand why anyone would want to hurt her.
- use this especially in the past or future tense: · Unfortunately, I wasn't able to help them.· I'm afraid I won't be able to come to the meeting after all.· The doctor told Tina she wouldn't be able to have children.· I've looked all over the house but I haven't been able to find my keys anywhere.
especially written to not be able to do something, especially something important that you want to do or need to do: · He lay awake all night, unable to sleep.· The surgery left her unable to walk for nearly three months.
the fact that someone is unable to do something, used especially when you are annoyed with them because you think they are too weak, lazy etc to do it: · Her actions show an inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality.somebody's inability to do something: · He even blamed his parents for his inability to make friends.· Voters are becoming frustrated at the inability of the administration to do anything about the debt crisis.
to not have the physical or mental ability to do something - often used when you are criticizing someone: be incapable/not be capable of: · Matthew seemed to be incapable of keeping a job.· She's no longer capable of taking care of herself.· Nero was a cruel man, utterly incapable of pity or sympathy.
informal to not be able to do something because you do not have enough knowledge, money, or authority: · I'm afraid I'm not in a position to answer your questions.· Local school boards are in no position to pay for the extra cost of the curriculum.scarcely/hardly in a position to do something: · The US is hardly in a position to criticize other countries for wasting energy supplies.
to be unable to do something because you do not have the right training or experience: not be equipped/be ill-equipped to do something: · The young teacher wasn't equipped to deal with such a difficult class.· The organization is ill-equipped to deal with the problems it may encounter.not be equipped/be ill-equipped for: · After so many years in prison, Victor was not equipped for life on the outside.
to be unable to do something, especially something practical, because you have not learned how to do it: · I didn't know how to drive a car till I was 28.· A lot of the doctors here still don't know how to use the new equipment.
when you are not allowed or do not have the power to do something · "I really want to see that movie." "You can't. You're not old enough."can't/cannot do something · The manager can't fire you for being pregnant.· Members of the public cannot enter the building unless they have an identity card.· In those days a woman could not divorce her husband except in the most extreme cases.
use this when a law or rule does not allow someone to do something: · If you don't have a library card, you won't be able to borrow any books.· You won't be able to get back into the country without your passport.
to be unable to do something because your job does not give you the authority or right to do it: · It is not in her power to increase your salary, but she can recommend it.· Individual states do not have the power to declare war.
to be unable to do something because you do not have the authority or the moral right to do it: · The agency is not in a position to negotiate or make decisions.
if a problem or situation is out of someone's hands , they are no longer responsible for dealing with it because it has been taken over by someone with more power, or because it must now be decided according to the law: · The matter is out of our hands now - we'll just have to wait to see what the judge decides.· It's no longer in my hands, I'm afraid - I've sent a report about your son's behaviour to the police.
if someone's hands are tied they cannot do what they want because of particular conditions or rules made by someone else: · The company's hands are tied because of government regulations.· I'd like to help you, but you missed the deadline. I'm afraid my hands are tied.
unable to control or stop something because you do not have the power or legal right to do this: · The average citizen feels completely powerless faced with the rising tide of crime and violence.powerless to do something: · Although we all thought the decision was unfair, we were powerless to change it.powerless against: · Citizens imprisoned for their political beliefs are powerless against the government.
if you are ineligible to take part in something or to receive something, you do not have the legal right to do this: · Police found that many of the people on the list were ineligible voters.ineligible for: · People with higher incomes are ineligible for the government benefits.ineligible to do something: · Because he no longer lives in the district, he is ineligible to run for re-election.
not able to read to be unable to read at all: · A new report says that 25% of all 7-year-olds cannot read.· Jim couldn't read at all until he was fifteen.· It was not until I had lived with her for a year that I realized she couldn't read.
someone who is illiterate cannot read or write - use this about adults or older children: · His father was an illiterate farm worker.· If 70% of the population is illiterate, how do people know who they are voting for?
someone, especially a child, who can read, but not very well: · At first Katy was a slow reader, but now she reads all the time.· At the end of the day the teacher does half an hour's extra work with the slow readers.
the fact of being not able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society cannot read: · Illiteracy rates among women in many countries are a serious cause for concern.· a society struggling to overcome poverty and illiteracy· The government has given extra funding to help tackle illiteracy in the inner cities.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The judge cannot be faulted on his decision. The importance of adequate preparation cannot be overemphasized (=used to say that something is very important). The importance of a child’s early years cannot be overstated (=is very important).
(=it is impossible to describe something)· Words can’t express how much I miss her.
The judge cannot be faulted on his decision. The importance of adequate preparation cannot be overemphasized (=used to say that something is very important). (also something can hardly be overestimated) (=used to emphasize that something is very important)· His influence on rock music cannot be overestimated.· The importance of good medical care can hardly be overestimated.
The importance of a child’s early years cannot be overstated (=is very important).· I couldn't resist teasing him.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody cannot but do something► Ye cannot serve God and Mammon► cannot for the life of me► cannot put a name to something► it cannot be otherwise/how can it be otherwise?
1a negative form of ‘can’: - If we are attacked with violence, we cannot but respond with violence.
- But I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
- He had died somewhere on the way to his next case, and Quinn could not bring himself to feel sorry.
- I debated with myself but in the end, I could not bring myself to pack up and leave.
- Rain could not bring herself to put this to the test.
- She could not bring herself to fall down the house stairs.
- The New-York Historical Society couldn't bring itself to do that.
- The teakettle made a brisk whistling sound, but John Wade could not bring himself to move.
- This little subterfuge the guard put into motion somehow he could not bring himself to do it.
Mrs Armstrong regrets that she cannot accept your kind invitation.2 cannot but formal used to say that you feel you have to do something: One cannot but admire her determination.- Congo, Republic of
- Congo, the Democratic Republic of
- congrats
- congratulate
- congratulation
- congratulatory
- congregate
- congregation
- Congregational
- Congregationalism
- Congregationalist
- congress
- congressional
- Congressional Medal of Honor
- Congressional Record
- congressman
- Congress Party
- congresswoman
- congruence
- congruent
- conical
- conifer
- coniferous
- conj.
- conjectural