cannot

[kan-ot, ka-not, kuh-]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb

a form of can not.

cannot

/ kæˈnɒt, ˈkænɒt /

verb

an auxiliary verb expressing incapacity, inability, withholding permission, etc; can not

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Spelling Note

Cannot is sometimes also spelled can not. The one-word spelling is by far the more common: Interest rates simply cannot continue at their present level. The contraction can't is most common in speech and informal writing.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cannot¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

cannot but, have no alternative but to.
We cannot but choose otherwise.

see under can't.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The AGO previously told the BBC it had received several requests to review the sentences given to the pair, who cannot be named due to their ages.

From

"As one of those impacted told us: once this information is out there, it cannot be changed or reissued like a password or credit card number," said Mr Edwards.

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Eight-year-old Henry has multiple diagnoses, including autism and ADHD, which mean he cannot cope with a school environment.

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If they do, "schools cannot simply choose to not include parents", he said.

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"We cannot continue on this way," she said.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

cannonry Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it

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