can

SayKAN/ˈkæn/

31 meanings of can

1
abilityverbauxiliary
To be able to do something or know how to do it.
Like a key that fits: having it means the door will open for you.
Can your dog swim, or is he afraid of water?
Some birds can fly for days without stopping.
UsageSay can + verb, with no to: can swim (not ~~incorrect: can to swim~~). For the past, say could.
Oppositecan't, cannot
2
verbauxiliarymodal
Used to say that something is possible or sometimes happens.
Driving in the snow can be very dangerous.
It can get really windy here in the spring.
UsageUse can for things that are possible or sometimes true. For a guess about one thing, say might or could.
Similarmay
Note
3
permissionverbauxiliarymodal
Used to give or ask for permission, as in 'can I use your pen?'.
You can go out and play when you've finished your homework.
You can borrow my bike this weekend if you bring it back clean.
UsageCan I …? is the usual way to ask. May I …? is more polite.
Similarmay
4
verbManglishSinglishauxiliaryintransitive
In Singapore and Malaysian English, 'can' used on its own to mean 'be able to'.
"You know how to use chopsticks?" "Can."
"You swim or not?" "Can, but only a little."
UsagePeople answer just Can. or Cannot., and ask Can or not?
Note

Less common meanings

5
polite requestverbcolloquialauxiliarymodal
Used to ask someone politely to do something, as in 'can you help me?'.
Can you pass me the salt and pepper, please?
Can you turn the music down a little? I'm on the phone.
UsageCould you …? is a little more polite than can you …?
Similarwill, would
6
drink or food tinnouncountable
A sealed metal tin holding food or drink.
I drank a can of soda with my lunch.
She opened a can of beans for supper.
UsageSay a can of + what is inside: a can of soda.
Similartin
7
carrying containernouncountable
A container, usually made of metal, for holding or carrying things, especially liquids.
He keeps a can of paint in the garage for small repairs.
He filled the can at the pump.
UsageOften used with another word: a gas can, a milk can, a watering can.
Similarcanister
Note
8
scrap a planverbtransitive
To cancel or give up a plan, project or idea.
The city canned the plan for a new stadium after the costs went up.
The network decided to can the show after one season.
UsageOften was canned.
Similarscrap, drop, cancel, abandon, shelve
Note
9
fire from jobverbslangeuphemisticUStransitive
To fire someone from a job, in American slang.
The company canned three managers after the big mistake.
They will can anyone caught stealing.
UsageOften said as get canned or be canned: he got canned. It means almost the same as fired.
Similarfire, sack, dismiss
Oppositehire, employ
10
seal in jarsverbtransitive
To preserve food or drink in sealed cans or jars, or to pack other products into cans.
Every fall, my mother cans peaches so we can eat them in winter.
Grandma taught us to can our own tomatoes.
UsageOften canned food.
Similarpreserve, tin, bottle
Note
11
toiletnounslangUS
The toilet, in American slang, as in 'Where's the can?'
Dad's in the can, so he'll call you back in a minute.
I didn't have anything special to do, so I went down to the can and chewed the rag with him while he was shaving.
1951, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the RyeHere, the can means the toilet or bathroom.
UsageSay the can: Where's the can?
Similarjohn, toilet, latrine, loo, bog
Note
12
behind barsnounslang
Prison, in slang, as in 'in the can'.
The police finally caught him, and now he's in the can.
She visited her cousin in the can every Sunday.
Similarjail, prison, slammer, clink, joint
Note
13
bottomnounslangmildly vulgarchildishCanadaUScountable
A childish or rude word for the bottom, in North America.
He slipped and landed on his can.
Get off your can and help.
UsageFine as a joke with friends, but do not use it in polite talk.
Similarbutt, backside, behind, rear, bottom
Note
14
breastsnounslangvulgarCanadaUScountable
A crude word for a woman's breasts, usually in the plural.
The magazine cover was all cleavage and cans, she complained.
Jokes about her cans got him thrown out of the bar.
UsageA crude word for breasts that can offend. Avoid it at work or in polite talk.
Similarboobs, breasts, jugs
15
shut upverbslangtransitive
To stop talking or stop doing something, in slang, as in 'can it!'.
Can it! I'm trying to hear the game.
If you don't can that noise, we'll all get in trouble.
UsageMostly said as an order: Can it!
Similarstop, quit
Note
16
headphonesnounslangplural
Headphones, in slang, as in 'a pair of cans'.
The engineer slipped on his cans and cued the track.
Grab a pair of cans and listen to this mix.
Similarheadphones, headset, earphones
17
marijuana measurenounslangUScountable
In US drug slang, an ounce of marijuana.
Similarlid, ounce
Note
18
nounarchaic
In old use, a chamber pot.
Similarcommode
Note
19
nounarchaic
In old use, a drinking cup or tankard.
Fill the cup and fill the can: / Have a rouse before the morn: / Every minute dies a man, / Every minute one is born.
1842, Alfred Tennyson, “A Vision of Sin”Here, can means a drinking cup or large mug.
SIR ANDREW: Nay, my troth, I know not: but I know, to be up late is to be up late. / SIR TOBY: A false conclusion: I hate it as an unfilled can.
c. 1601, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”Here, can means a drinking cup, and an unfilled can is an empty cup.
Note
20
verbobsoletetransitive
In old use, to know something.
Let the priest in surplice white, / That defunctive music can.
1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and AdonisHere, can means to know, so the priest knows the funeral music.
ca.1360-1387, William Langland, Piers Plowman I can no Latin, quod she.
Here, can means to know, so she is saying she knows no Latin.
Similarken
Note
21
chimney potnouncountable
A pot on top of a chimney.
A bird had nested in the chimney can.
Each chimney on the old house has a tall clay can on top.
Similarchimneypot
22
verbManglishSinglish
In Singapore and Malaysian English, to be fine, possible, or enough, as in 'can already'.
23
interjectionManglishSinglish
In Singapore and Malaysian English, 'OK', 'sure', said to agree.
24
verbslang
In golf slang, to sink the ball into the hole.
25
noun
A drum-shaped buoy marking the port side of a channel.
26
noun
A protective casing around a fuel rod in a nuclear reactor.
27
verb
To seal a nuclear fuel element in its protective casing.
28
verbnonstandardIndia
In some nonstandard Indian English, used in place of be before words like able or allowed.
29
interjectionManglishSinglish
Used to tell someone not to worry, in Singapore and Malaysian English.
30
particleManglishSinglish
Added after a question to mean is that OK?
31
nounslang
In Scientology, usually cans, the two metal tubes a person holds while connected to an E-meter.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–5, 20

From Old English cunnan, meaning "to know how," going back to a root that also gave us the word "know."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Can descends from Old English cunnan, meaning “to know how.” en.wiktionary.org
Can and know descend from the same root. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 6–19, 21

From Old English canne, meaning a cup or container.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun can derives from Old English canne. en.wiktionary.org
Old English canne meant a cup or container. en.wiktionary.org