To save this word, you'll need to log in.
\ kən, ˈkan 
also ˈken; dialectal ˈkin \
also ˈken; dialectal ˈkin \ past could\ kəd , ˈku̇d \; present singular & plural can
\; present singular & plural canDefinition of can
(Entry 1 of 5)
1a : be physically or mentally able to He can lift 200 pounds.
b : know how to She can read.
c —used to indicate possibilityDo 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 mayYou can go now if you like.
archaic : to have knowledge or skill
can
noun\ ˈkan \
\ plural cans
Definition of can (Entry 2 of 5)
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
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
3 informal
a : toilet sitting on the can
b : bathroom sense 1 He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.
6 informal : headphone —usually pluralYou 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
in the can
of a film or videotape : completed and ready for release
can
verb (2)\ ˈkan \
\canned; canning
Definition of can (Entry 3 of 5)
1a : 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
can
abbreviation (1)Definition of can (Entry 4 of 5)
1 canceled; cancellation
2 cannon
3 canto
Can
abbreviation (2)variants: or Canad
Definition of Can (Entry 5 of 5)
Canada; Canadian
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from can
Noun
canful \ ˈkan-ˌfu̇l \ noun
\ nounVerb (2)
canner noun
Synonyms for can
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: 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
Examples of can in a Sentence
Noun He ate the whole can of beans. the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Then Trayvon Martin was shot and killed after buying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "'I'm leaving and I'm just not coming back': Fed up with racism, Black Americans head overseas," 26 June 2020 There’s nothing like a fresh can of silly string in the summer. — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, "6 Festive Ways to Celebrate Fourth of July That Are Safer Than DIY Fireworks," 22 June 2020 The fire was extinguished in about six minutes with damage reported to the can. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Unruly diners flee after jumping on counter, making threats at Wendy’s: Orange Police Blotter," 19 June 2020 Just then, a can of red spray paint rolls down the bus aisle and lands at Clay's feet. — Martha Sorren, refinery29.com, "13 Reasons Why," 8 June 2020 After blasting pepper spray from a can at those around them, the officers then retreated. — Christopher Harress | Charress@al.com, al, "Police shoot pepper balls at Mobile activists as peaceful protest turns violent," 1 June 2020 Inside the car, investigators found Carrillo's fingerprint on a can of white spray paint, according to the complaint. — Katie Shepherd, Anchorage Daily News, "An officer was murdered during Oakland protests. The killer was a ‘Boogaloo Boy’ using the peaceful marches as cover, feds say.," 17 June 2020 That’s when the man in blue pulled out a can of pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed it. — Fox News, "Albuquerque to send unarmed social workers, not police officers, to some 911 calls," 16 June 2020 Both soaps had several weeks of fresh episodes in the can, but that wasn't enough to get them through the production shutdown. — Lynette Rice, EW.com, "The Bold and the Beautiful set to resume production on Wednesday," 16 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'can.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about can
Dictionary Entries near can
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for can
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Can.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can. Accessed 7 Jul. 2020.
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for can
can
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of can
: a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food or drink
: the food or drink that is in a can
: a metal or plastic container that has a removable top and that is used for holding liquid, trash, etc.
See the full definition for can in the English Language Learners Dictionary
can
helping verb\ kən , ˈkan \
, ˈkan \ past could\ kəd , ˈku̇d \; present singular & plural can
Kids Definition of can
(Entry 1 of 4)
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
noun\ ˈkan \
\Kids Definition of can (Entry 2 of 4)
1 : a metal container usually shaped like a cylinder a soda can
2 : the contents of a can Add a can of tomatoes.
can
verb\ ˈkan \
\canned; canning
Kids Definition of can (Entry 3 of 4)
: to prepare for later use by sealing in an airtight can or jar Let's can peaches for winter.
Can., Canad.
abbreviationKids Definition of Can.
1 Canada
2 Canadian
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on can
What made you want to look up can? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share can
Time Traveler for can
The first known use of can was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century