cannot
gb/kænˈɑt/ us/kænˈɑt/
A1
English
Senses
0 senses
modal_verb
A1
state
1
not able to do something
It means “not able to.”
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [do something]
Common mistake:
In modern English, it is usually written as one word (cannot). The form “can not” is uncommon and usually used only for emphasis.
Synonyms
be unable to (More formal and used like a normal verb phrase.)
|
can't (The common spoken contraction.)
Antonyms
can (Expresses ability or possibility.)
Collocations
cannot do
|cannot come
|cannot find
|cannot remember
|cannot see
|cannot hear
|cannot understand
|cannot decide
|cannot move
|cannot sleep
Themes
daily_life
|ability
Examples
- I cannot open this jar.
- She cannot drive at night without her glasses.
- We cannot finish today because the files are missing.
Learner examples
- I cannot swim.
- He cannot come today.
modal_verb
A2
rule
2
not permitted to do something
It means “not allowed to.”
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [do something] (here/in this place/under these rules)
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this meaning with “not able to.” In signs and rules, cannot often means “not permitted.”
Synonyms
may not (Common in formal rules and permissions.)
|
must not (Often stronger, emphasizing prohibition.)
Antonyms
may (Expresses permission.)
|
can (In some contexts, expresses permission (informal).)
Collocations
cannot enter
|cannot park
|cannot smoke
|cannot use
|cannot bring
|cannot access
|cannot carry
|cannot return
|cannot board
|cannot be admitted
Themes
rules
|public_places
Examples
- You cannot park here after 6 p.m.
- Visitors cannot enter the lab without an escort.
- You cannot use your phone during the exam.
Learner examples
- We cannot smoke here.
- You cannot bring food inside.
modal_verb
B1
state
3
impossible to happen or be done
It means “it is not possible.”
Usage pattern:
[something] cannot [happen/be done/be achieved]
Synonyms
be impossible to (More explicit and often more formal.)
|
there is no way to (More conversational; emphasizes certainty.)
Antonyms
can (Expresses possibility.)
|
be possible to (Direct opposite phrasing.)
Collocations
cannot happen
|cannot be done
|cannot be avoided
|cannot be changed
|cannot be undone
|cannot work
|cannot last
|cannot continue
|cannot exist
|cannot fail
Themes
logic
|daily_life
Examples
- This door cannot be opened from the outside.
- A square cannot have three sides.
- With these temperatures, the battery cannot last all day.
Learner examples
- It cannot happen.
- This cannot be done today.
modal_verb
B1
state
4
refuse or be unwilling to
It can mean “I will not” or “I refuse to.”
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [accept/agree/allow] [something]
Common mistake:
This meaning is about choice or attitude (refusal), not physical ability.
Synonyms
refuse to (More direct and explicit.)
|
won't (More informal and often stronger.)
Antonyms
agree to (Accepts a request or plan.)
|
be willing to (Shows readiness to do something.)
Collocations
cannot accept
|cannot agree
|cannot allow
|cannot support
|cannot approve
|cannot risk
|cannot tolerate
|cannot justify
|cannot forgive
|cannot face
Themes
social
|emotions
Examples
- I cannot accept this money.
- We cannot agree to those terms.
- She cannot allow her name to be used in the advertisement.
Learner examples
- I cannot accept it.
- He cannot agree.
modal_verb
B2
relation
5
used for strong negative certainty
It means “I’m sure it isn’t true/possible.”
Usage pattern:
[something] cannot be [true/right/possible]
Synonyms
can't (More common in speech; same meaning.)
|
must not be (Also expresses deduction, often slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
must be (Expresses strong positive deduction.)
|
can be (Allows the possibility.)
Collocations
cannot be true
|cannot be right
|cannot be serious
|cannot have
|cannot possibly
|cannot be the case
|cannot mean
|cannot be real
|cannot be explained
|cannot be denied
Themes
logic
|opinions
Examples
- This cannot be the final version; it still has spelling errors.
- He cannot have written this alone—it’s too technical.
- That cannot be right; the total is higher than the budget.
Learner examples
- It cannot be true.
- That cannot be right.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cannot
IPA
GB/kænˈɑt/
US/kænˈɑt/
Syllables & stress
can - not (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (not)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cannot
- Plural: cannots
Word family
Expressions
cannot ... enough
1/kænˈɑt | ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
emphasize that something is very great
It means “as much as possible; very, very much.”
Examples
- I cannot thank you enough for your help.
- We cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
- She cannot praise her team enough.
cannot afford (to) [do something]
1/kænˈɑt əfˈɔɹd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
not have money or ability to risk
It means “I don’t have enough money” or “it’s too risky.”
Examples
- We cannot afford a bigger apartment right now.
- I cannot afford to miss any more work.
- The company cannot afford to lose its biggest customer.
cannot be bothered (to) [do something]
1/kænˈɑt bˈi bˈɑðɚd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
not willing to make the effort
It means “I don’t want to do it because it feels like too much effort.”
Examples
- I cannot be bothered to cook tonight, so let’s order pizza.
- He cannot be bothered with the paperwork.
- She cannot be bothered to argue about it anymore.
cannot but [do something]
1/kænˈɑt bˈʌt dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
must do; cannot avoid
It means “must” or “cannot avoid.”
Examples
- I cannot but agree with your conclusion.
- She cannot but admire his patience.
- We cannot but wonder what happened next.
cannot complain
1/kænˈɑt kəmplˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
say you are fine or okay
It means “I’m doing okay.”
Examples
- “How’s work?” “Cannot complain.”
- I cannot complain—things have been pretty good lately.
- We cannot complain, considering how busy everyone else is.
cannot help (doing) [something]
1/kænˈɑt hˈɛlp dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be unable to stop oneself
It means “I can’t stop myself.”
Examples
- I cannot help laughing when I watch that scene.
- She cannot help worrying about her son.
- He cannot help thinking that something is wrong.
cannot stand [someone/something]
1/kænˈɑt stˈænd sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
strongly dislike or tolerate
It means “I really dislike it” or “I can’t tolerate it.”
Examples
- I cannot stand that constant noise.
- He cannot stand being interrupted.
- She cannot stand the way he talks to staff.
cannot wait
1/kænˈɑt wˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
be very excited for something
It means “I’m very excited and want it soon.”
Examples
- I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
- They cannot wait for the holidays to start.
- She cannot wait to tell her parents the news.