can
can
Pronunciation
can /kæn/
Syllable 1: /kæn/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Modal Verb:
Base form: can (e.g., I can do it.)
Past tense: could (e.g., I could do it yesterday.)
No other variations (e.g., no "cans" or "canning" as a modal verb).
Noun:
Singular: can (e.g., a can of soup)
Plural: cans (e.g., several cans of soup)
Verb (to put into a can):
Base form: can (e.g., I will can the peaches.)
Third-person singular present: cans (e.g., She cans vegetables every year.)
Present participle: canning (e.g., They are canning tomatoes.)
Past tense/Past participle: canned (e.g., We canned the fruit last summer.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A cylindrical metal container, typically hermetically sealed, used for preserving and storing food or other products.
Example: "She opened a can of tuna for lunch."
Synonyms: tin, container, receptacle, jar
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a type of object. One could consider "fresh" or "unpackaged" in a context of food, but these aren't true antonyms of the object itself.)
A metal container, often with a handle and spout, used for holding and pouring liquids, especially for watering plants or dispensing oil.
Example: "He filled the watering can with water for the garden."
Synonyms: jug, pitcher, vessel, pot
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
(Slang) A toilet or lavatory.
Example: "Excuse me, where's the can?"
Synonyms: restroom, washroom, toilet, lavatory, loo (UK), john (US)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
(Modal Verb) To be able to; to have the physical or mental capacity, opportunity, or permission to do something.
Example: "I can speak three languages."
Synonyms: be able to, be capable of, have the ability to, be permitted to, may (in the sense of permission)
Antonyms: cannot, be unable to, be incapable of, may not (in the sense of permission)
To preserve (food) in a can or jar.
Example: "My grandmother used to can her own peaches every summer."
Synonyms: preserve, jar, bottle, seal, tin (UK)
Antonyms: spoil, discard, waste (in the context of not preserving)
(Slang) To dismiss or fire someone from a job.
Example: "The company decided to can several employees due to budget cuts."
Synonyms: fire, dismiss, lay off, sack (informal), terminate
Antonyms: hire, employ, recruit, retain
(Slang) To stop or cease doing something, especially something annoying or unwanted.
Example: "Can the noise, please! I'm trying to concentrate."
Synonyms: stop, cease, halt, quit, desist
Antonyms: continue, persist, begin, start
Adjective
(Informal, usually in compound forms like "can-do") Indicating a positive and resourceful attitude; capable and willing to achieve goals.
Example: "He has a real can-do attitude when faced with challenges."
Synonyms: resourceful, optimistic, proactive, capable, determined
Antonyms: pessimistic, hesitant, unresourceful, incapable, defeated
Examples of Use
Books:
"As a writer, one can only hope to capture a fraction of the human experience." (From The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, published 1989)
"She lifted a can of green beans from the pantry shelf, its label faded with time." (From Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, August 2018)
Newspapers:
"The city council announced that residents can now apply for the new housing grants." (The New York Times)
"Local farmers are encouraged to can their excess produce to support food banks this harvest season." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"A new study suggests artificial intelligence can detect early signs of certain diseases with remarkable accuracy." (Wired.com)
"The article explored whether a small business can truly thrive in today's competitive online market." (Forbes.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "We can do this!" (A common motivational line in action movies, such as Avengers: Endgame)
Television: "I can't believe you ate all the cookies!" (From an episode of Friends, aired 1994-2004)
Music: "If I can't have you, I don't want nobody, baby." (From the song "I Can't Get Next to You" by The Temptations, released 1969)
Video Games: "You can collect more power-ups by exploring the hidden areas." (Instructional text in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, May 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the nearest bus stop?" (Common street interaction)
"I really think we can make a difference if we all work together on this project." (Conversation among colleagues)
"Could you pass me that can of soda?" (Everyday request at a gathering)
"They decided to can the entire advertising campaign after negative public feedback." (Business discussion)
10 Quotes Using Can
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." (Jimmy Dean)
"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy)
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." (Henry Ford)
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." (Reinhold Niebuhr)
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me." (Carol Burnett)
"You can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you." (Tim O'Brien)
"But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated." (Ernest Hemingway)
"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want." (Zig Ziglar)
Etymology
The word "can" has a fascinating history, with its different meanings coming from different origins.
1. "Can" as in "to be able to" (the modal verb):
This "can" comes from an Old English word, "cunnan," which meant "to know" or "to know how." Imagine it like "I know how to do this," which then evolved into "I am able to do this." Its earliest known use in this sense dates back to before the 12th century, where it was already used to express ability or knowledge. Over time, the "knowing" sense faded, and the "ability" sense became dominant.
2. "Can" as in a metal container (the noun):
This "can" is a much newer word. It's actually a shortened form of the word "canister." "Canister" itself came from the Latin word "canistrum," which referred to a wicker basket (often used for bread or fruit). The idea was a container. When people started making metal containers for food preservation in the early 19th century, particularly after the invention of tin-plating, they needed a simple name for them. So, "canister" was shortened to "can." The first known use of "can" in this sense of a metal container for food or drink was around 1816.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Can
Can-do attitude: Having a positive and optimistic approach to tasks.
Open a can of worms: To create a new and complicated problem.
Put a lid on it / Can it: To stop talking or causing trouble.
Kick the can down the road: To postpone dealing with a problem.
A tin can: Referring to a small, inexpensive, or poorly built car.
Can't stand (someone/something): To strongly dislike or detest.
As fast as one can: As quickly as possible.
Can of tuna: A common reference to the food item.
To be in the can: To be finished or completed (often used in film/TV production).
Can't help but: Unable to avoid doing something.
To get canned: To be fired from a job.
Pouring oil on troubled waters: (Synonym idiom for calming a situation, where "can" might imply the container for the oil).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of can from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
