couldn't
/ˈkʊd.n̩t/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
could not (negative auxiliary)
Verb
Examples
You couldn’t lend me a lighter, could you?
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).
Common questions
What does “couldn't” mean?
could not (negative auxiliary)
Is “couldn't” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.