English · Word Candidate

cannot

/ˈkænɒt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cannots

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Can not; be unable to (whether due to physical inability, logical impossibility, etc.).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

không thể; bị hạn chế

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

I cannot open the window. It is stuck.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Be forbidden or not permitted to.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

bị cấm hoặc không được phép

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

The Pupil after his Pupillarity, had granted a Diſcharge to one of the Co-tutors, which did extinguiſh the whole Debt of that Co-tutor, and conſequently of all the reſt, they being all correi debendi, lyable by one individual Obligation, which cannot be Diſcharged as to one, and ſtand as to all the

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Something that cannot be done.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

một điều không thể làm

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

the cans and cannots

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A person who cannot do (something).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

người không thể làm một việc gì

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cannot” mean?

Can not; be unable to (whether due to physical inability, logical impossibility, etc.).

Is “cannot” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.