can't
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be unwilling to; to not have the desire of; to don’t want to.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Will you come to dinner with us tonight? Can't; already have plans this evening.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “can't” mean?
To be unwilling to; to not have the desire of; to don’t want to.
Is “can't” formal or informal?
can't is generally slang.