Can
modal verb
To be able to do something.
I can swim very well.
Often appears as...
- can do
- can see
noun
A metal container, especially for food or drink.
He opened a can of soup.
Often appears as...
- can of soda
- can opener
verb
To put food or drink into cans to preserve it.
They can their own vegetables.
Often appears as...
- can tomatoes
- can fruit
modal verb
To have the right or ability to do something.
Can I go to the bathroom?
Often appears as...
- can i
- can you
noun
Slang for toilet.
Where's the can?
Often appears as...
- hit the can
- use the can
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To reject, fire or dismiss someone from a job.
He got canned from his job.
Often appears as...
- can him
- got canned
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
modal verb
To be able to do something.
I can swim very well.
Often appears as...
- can do
- can see
noun
A metal container, especially for food or drink.
He opened a can of soup.
Often appears as...
- can of soda
- can opener
verb
To put food or drink into cans to preserve it.
They can their own vegetables.
Often appears as...
- can tomatoes
- can fruit
modal verb
To have the right or ability to do something.
Can I go to the bathroom?
Often appears as...
- can i
- can you
noun
Slang for toilet.
Where's the can?
Often appears as...
- hit the can
- use the can
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To reject, fire or dismiss someone from a job.
He got canned from his job.
Often appears as...
- can him
- got canned
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 6
Pro Tip 1/2Asking Ability
Use 'can' to ask if someone knows how to do something.
Can you play the piano?
Pro Tip 2/2Offering Skills
Offer your skills using 'can' to show willingness to help.
I can help you with your homework.
Pro Tip 1/2Asking Ability
Use 'can' to ask if someone knows how to do something.
Can you play the piano?
Pro Tip 2/2Offering Skills
Offer your skills using 'can' to show willingness to help.
I can help you with your homework.
Pro Tip 1/2Asking Ability
Use 'can' to ask if someone knows how to do something.
Can you play the piano?
Pro Tip 2/2Offering Skills
Offer your skills using 'can' to show willingness to help.
I can help you with your homework.
Never forget "Can"
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Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
and some physicists think you can only un-baffle it if you imagine that huge numbers of parallel universes are being spawned every moment, and many of these universes would actually be very like the world we're in, would include multiple copies of you. In one such universe, you'd graduate with honors
Video examples
Bill Gates: The next...
There was no one there to look at treatment approaches. No one to look at the diagnostics. No one to figure out what tools should be used. As an example, we could have taken the blood of survivors, processed it, and put that plasma back in people to protect them.
Video examples
The Rise of the Cali...
JIM So, they were to be respected. Yes, they were dopers and traffickers, but you cannot underestimate them. You underestimate people of that caliber, you're doomed.
Video examples
If superpowers were...
What if I could fly? What if I could live forever? What if I could be invisible? What if I could lift a tank?
Video examples
Angry Hippos Fight for...
Forward-pointing tusks can stab right through protective blubber.
Video examples
Could These Distant...
there's the eons past you could watch the future of the cosmos
Video examples
Relax With BBC Earth PIPE...
we can live life feeling refreshed, re-energised, and renewed.
Video examples
Slow Down With Snow...
we can live life feeling refreshed re-energized and renewed
Video examples
Predator X hunts in deep...
In deep water, Predator X can use its full power.
Video examples
Hacking objects and...
can I go back to that previous life
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
and some physicists think you can only un-baffle it if you imagine that huge numbers of parallel universes are being spawned every moment, and many of these universes would actually be very like the world we're in, would include multiple copies of you. In one such universe, you'd graduate with honors
Video examples
Bill Gates: The next...
There was no one there to look at treatment approaches. No one to look at the diagnostics. No one to figure out what tools should be used. As an example, we could have taken the blood of survivors, processed it, and put that plasma back in people to protect them.
Video examples
The Rise of the Cali...
JIM So, they were to be respected. Yes, they were dopers and traffickers, but you cannot underestimate them. You underestimate people of that caliber, you're doomed.
Video examples
If superpowers were...
What if I could fly? What if I could live forever? What if I could be invisible? What if I could lift a tank?
Video examples
Angry Hippos Fight for...
Forward-pointing tusks can stab right through protective blubber.
Video examples
Could These Distant...
there's the eons past you could watch the future of the cosmos
Video examples
Relax With BBC Earth PIPE...
we can live life feeling refreshed, re-energised, and renewed.
Video examples
Slow Down With Snow...
we can live life feeling refreshed re-energized and renewed
Video examples
Predator X hunts in deep...
In deep water, Predator X can use its full power.
Video examples
Hacking objects and...
can I go back to that previous life
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Nelson Mandela
South African Statesman
Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face. So it's very important to give children education and explain that they should play a role for their country.
Quote examples
Vincent Van Gogh
Dutch Painter
I can very well do without God both in my life and in my painting, but I cannot, suffering as I am, do without something which is greater than I am, which is my life, the power to create.
Quote examples
Morgan Freeman
American Actor
All my life, all my life that I can, as far back as I can remember, I saw my first movie when I was six years old. And since then I wanted to do that. I wanted to be a part of that.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
I had to prove you could be a new kind of black man. I had to show the world.
Quote examples
Plato
Greek Philosopher
No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.
Quote examples
Thomas A. Edison
American Inventor
What a man's mind can create, man's character can control.
Quote examples
Franz Kafka
Novelist
Not everyone can see the truth, but he can be it.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
If we don't know life, how can we know death?
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
Nothing cannot exist forever.
Quote examples
Nelson Mandela
South African Statesman
Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face. So it's very important to give children education and explain that they should play a role for their country.
Quote examples
Vincent Van Gogh
Dutch Painter
I can very well do without God both in my life and in my painting, but I cannot, suffering as I am, do without something which is greater than I am, which is my life, the power to create.
Quote examples
Morgan Freeman
American Actor
All my life, all my life that I can, as far back as I can remember, I saw my first movie when I was six years old. And since then I wanted to do that. I wanted to be a part of that.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
I had to prove you could be a new kind of black man. I had to show the world.
Quote examples
Plato
Greek Philosopher
No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.
Quote examples
Thomas A. Edison
American Inventor
What a man's mind can create, man's character can control.
Quote examples
Franz Kafka
Novelist
Not everyone can see the truth, but he can be it.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
If we don't know life, how can we know death?
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
Nothing cannot exist forever.
Example 1 of 10
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