cannot

American  

[kan-ot, ka-not, kuh-] / ˈkæn ɒt, kæˈnɒt, kə- /

verb

1. a form of can not.

---

idioms

1. cannot but, have no alternative but to.

   We cannot but choose otherwise.

cannot British  

/ kæˈnɒt, ˈkænɒt /

verb

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

---

cannot More Idioms  

1. see under can't.

---

Spelling

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.

Etymology

Origin of cannot

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Compare meaning

How does cannot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• can't vs. cannot

Example Sentences

“The Church cannot remain silent when violence is justified in the name of security or when religious language is used to legitimize it,” saying that the church must “defend moral clarity.”

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

These p-nuclei cannot be produced through neutron capture.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

“While we cannot predict how these risks and uncertainties will ultimately play out, they are significant,” Dimon said in a release.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

"Violence cannot be the norm for expressing disagreement, be it with politics or a technology or any other matter," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Then Lily pulls out a complicated game involving a frog that eats worms, burps bubbles, and—for reasons I cannot comprehend—wears a top hat.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller