# can't

Pronunciation: US say "KANT" /kænt/; say "KAHNT" UK /kɑːnt/, AUS /kɐːnt/

## Verb

1. Cannot; used before a verb to say that someone is unable or lacks the ability to do something.
   - Simple: Not able to do something. It is the short form of cannot.
   - _No matter what I try, I can't get the old printer to connect._
   - _She can't read music, but she plays the piano beautifully by ear._
2. Used to say that someone is forbidden or not permitted to do something.
   - Simple: Not allowed to do something.
   - _Visitors can't park in the staff lot without a permit._
   - _Mom says I can't go to the party unless my homework is done._
3. Used, often before be, to say that something is logically impossible.
   - Simple: Used to say that something is impossible, so it is not true.
   - _The total can't be right, since the parts add up to less than half of it._
   - _If the alarm was set at midnight, the thief can't have entered after that without tripping it._

## Origin

Formed from can + -n't, and in use since 1706 or earlier.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/can-t (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).