can
1 of 5verb (1)
kən,
ˈkan 
also ˈken;
dialectal ˈkin
past could ; present singular & plural can
kəd,
ˈku̇d ; present singular & plural can auxiliary verb
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.
transitive verb
1
archaic : to be able to do, make, or accomplish
2
obsolete : know, understand
intransitive verb
archaic : to have knowledge or skill
can
2 of 5noun
ˈkan
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 canful
ˈkan-ˌfu̇l
noun can
3 of 5verb (2)
ˈkan
canned; canning
transitive verb
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
can
4 of 5abbreviation (1)
1
canceled; cancellation
2
cannon
3
canto
Can
5 of 5abbreviation (2)
variants or Canad
Canada; Canadian
Synonyms
Noun
- barrel
- canister
- cannister
- drum
- tin
Verb (2)
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He ate the whole can of beans. the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency
Recent Examples on the Web Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2022 She was told the phones were delivered to her home and placed next to a trash can. cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 This Swedish purveyor began when founder Holger Nielsen' quest to create the perfect receptacle for his wife's hair salon resulted in a now-iconic trash can. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 29 Aug. 2022 Torrey was the only of four K9s to do so, and also alerted to a trash can in Flores’ dorm room. Fox News, 26 Aug. 2022 And alone, in the 30-degree air, Burton launched ball after ball into the trash can. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 Back at Green City’s final Friday match, Casanova Valentine fended off his challenger in a bruising brawl featuring a trash can, ladder and other construction equipment. New York Times, 24 June 2022 Drafting him is betting on his lawyers successfully kicking the can down the road far enough to where a potential suspension doesn’t happen until next season. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 But apparently better to sell tickets now and kick the can down the road to building a winner. Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Kids in her class thought maybe a janitor dropped a trash can or somebody dropped a chair or a desk. Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2022 She was told the phones were delivered to her home and placed next to a trash can. cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 This Swedish purveyor began when founder Holger Nielsen' quest to create the perfect receptacle for his wife's hair salon resulted in a now-iconic trash can. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 29 Aug. 2022 Torrey was the only of four K9s to do so, and also alerted to a trash can in Flores’ dorm room. Fox News, 26 Aug. 2022 And alone, in the 30-degree air, Burton launched ball after ball into the trash can. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 Back at Green City’s final Friday match, Casanova Valentine fended off his challenger in a bruising brawl featuring a trash can, ladder and other construction equipment. New York Times, 24 June 2022 Drafting him is betting on his lawyers successfully kicking the can down the road far enough to where a potential suspension doesn’t happen until next season. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 But apparently better to sell tickets now and kick the can down the road to building a winner. Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
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 — more at know
Noun
Middle English canne, from Old English; akin to Old High German channa
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing can
Kids Definition
can 1 of 4
helping verb
kən
ˈkan
past could
kəd,
ˈku̇d
; present singular & plural can 1
: know how to
We can read.
2
: be able to
I can hear you.
3
: be permitted by conscience or feeling to
They can hardly blame me.
4
: have permission to
You can go now.
5
: to be possible
Can he still be alive?
can
2 of 4noun
ˈkan
1
: a metal container usually shaped like a cylinder
a soda can
2
: the contents of a can
Add a can of tomatoes.
can
3 of 4verb
ˈkan
canned; canning
: to prepare for later use by sealing in an airtight can or jar
Let's can peaches for winter.
Can., Canad.
4 of 4abbreviation
1
Canada
2
Canadian
canning
verb
1
as in stopping
slang to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stopping
- ending
- ceasing
- quitting
- halting
- finishing
- delaying
- suspending
- discontinuing
- cutting off
- shutting off
- laying off
- suspending
- cutting out
- dropping
- breaking off
- leaving off
- calling
- breaking
- concluding
- giving over
- knocking off
- completing
- breaking up
- packing (up or in)
- desisting (from)
- having done with
- stamping
- putting the kibosh on
- holding
- staying
- ruining
- blocking
- checking
- blockading
- holding back
- destroying
- killing
- braking
- aborting
- pausing
- turning back
- abolishing
- dissolving
- deactivating
- hindering
- clamping down
- squelching
- detaining
- closing (down)
- impeding
- stemming
- demolishing
- scuttling
- stunting
- snuffing
- squashing
- kiboshing
- damming
- suppressing
- obstructing
- stanching
- staunching
- arresting
- annulling
- reining (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuing
- proceeding
- keeping up
- progressing
- advancing
- driving
- running on
- carrying on
- following through (with)
- stirring
- actuating
- propelling
- impelling
2
as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers Synonyms & Similar Words
- sacking
- retiring
- firing
- removing
- dismissing
- releasing
- cashiering
- downsizing
- terminating
- mustering out
- axing
- discharging
- pink-slipping
- trimming
- excessing
- turning off
- showing (someone) the door
- bouncing
- sending packing
- laying off
- furloughing
- kicking out
- throwing out
- unseating
- separating
- booting (out)
- chucking (out)
- drumming (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hiring
- keeping
- employing
- retaining
- taking on
- signing (up or on)
- engaging
- contracting
- subcontracting
- rehiring
- recruiting
- re-employing
- reemploying