cannot

American  

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

verb

1. a form of can not.

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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

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cannot More Idioms  

1. see under can't.

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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

"That is really clear, and we've been really clear that Palantir in any provider doesn't have access or cannot share patient data for their own use."

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

“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

The finding suggests that quantum memory is more complex than previously believed and cannot be fully understood by looking at quantum states alone.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

“We therefore cannot afford to turn a blind eye to global overcapacity reaching critical levels.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

"Not while the spiders hang about the silk in such numbers. As soon as we touch the web, they will be upon us. We cannot risk that."

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda