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⇱ can I - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

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can I


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
can1 /kæn; unstressed kən/USA pronunciation   auxiliary (modal) verb. All present tense forms: can, past: could. 
auxiliary verb [~ + root form of a verb]
  1. to be able to;
    have the ability to: She can solve the problem easily.
  2. to know how to: I can play chess, but not very well.
  3. to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wants to in the script.
  4. may;
    have permission to: Can I speak to you for a moment?
  5. to have the possibility to: A coin can land on either side.
  6. (used in questions)
    • (used to ask if something is possible):Can that be the chairman on the phone? (= Is it possible that the chairman is on the phone?)
    • (used to urge or request someone to do something;
      often: ~ + [not]):Can't we just sit down and discuss this instead of fighting? (= I request that we sit down and discuss this.)
  7. (used in negative statements) must not:They're getting married? It can't be true!
Idioms
  1. Idioms can but, to be able to do nothing else except;
    can only:We can but try.

    can and may are both often used in the sense of possibility: A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Traditional grammar books insist that only may conveys "permission,'' but both words are now regularly used with this meaning: Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? can occurs this way chiefly in spoken English; may occurs more frequently in formal speech and writing. In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not; the contraction mayn't is rare: You can't park in the driveway. can but and cannot but are formal and old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no other way to do something.
can2 /kæn/USA pronunciation   n., v., canned, can•ning. 
n. [countable]
  1. a sealed container for food, etc., such as of aluminum:He opened several cans of beer.
  2. the contents of, or the quantity or amount of things inside:a can of mushroom soup.
  3. a usually large bucket or container for garbage, etc.:Throw that away in the trash can.
  4. Slang Terms[usually singular: the + ~](usually vulgar ). toilet;
    bathroom.
  5. Slang Termsjail:[usually singular: the + ~]sent to the can for twenty years.
  6. Slang Terms[usually singular: the + ~](sometimes vulgar ). buttocks.

v. [~ + object]
  1. to preserve (food) by sealing in a can, jar, etc.:She canned the strawberries in summer.
  2. Slang TermsSlang. to dismiss (someone) from a job;
    fire:They canned him after nearly twenty years on the job.
  3. Slang TermsSlang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!
Idioms
  1. Idioms, Cinema, Show Business in the can, (of a task, etc.) completed;
    finished.


can.,  an abbreviation of:
  1. canceled.
  2. canon.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
can1  (kan; unstressed kən),USA pronunciation auxiliary v.  and v., pres. sing. 1st pers. can, 2nd can  or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, pres. pl. can;
 past sing. 1st pers. could, 2nd could  or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past pl. could. For auxiliary v.: imperative, infinitive, and participles lacking. For v. (Obs.): imperative can;
 infinitive can;
 past part. could;
 pres. part. cun•ning. 
auxiliary verb. 
  1. to be able to;
    have the ability, power, or skill to:She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure.
  2. to know how to:He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it.
  3. to have the power or means to:A dictator can impose his will on the people.
  4. to have the right or qualifications to:He can change whatever he wishes in the script.
  5. may;
    have permission to:Can I speak to you for a moment?
  6. to have the possibility:A coin can land on either side.

v.t., v.i. 
  1. [Obs.]to know.
  • bef. 900; Middle English, Old English, present ind. singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; see ken, know
    Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility:A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only "to be able'' and may means "to be permitted,'' both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission:Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or may) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts:May I address the court, Your Honor?In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not:You can't have it today.I need it myself.The contraction mayn't is rare.
    Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only:We can but do our best.Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but:We cannot but protest against these injustices.See also cannot, help. 
can2  (kan),USA pronunciation n., v., canned, can•ning. 
n. 
  1. a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal:a can of soup.
  2. a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.:a trash can.
  3. a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids:water can.
  4. Winea drinking cup;
    tankard.
  5. Cinema, Show Businessa metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.
  6. Slang Terms(usually vulgar). toilet;
    bathroom.
  7. Slang Termsjail:He's been in the can for a week.
  8. Slang Terms(sometimes vulgar). buttocks.
  9. Military
    • a depth charge.
    • a destroyer.
  10. British Terms, Idioms carry the can, and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility.
  11. Cinema, Show Business in the can, recorded on film;
    completed:The movie is in the can and ready for release.

v.t. 
  1. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.
  2. Slang Termsto dismiss;
    fire.
  3. Slang Termsto throw (something) away.
  4. Slang Termsto put a stop to:Can that noise!
  5. Show Businessto record, as on film or tape.
  • WGmc; compare Late Latin canna small vessel
  • Middle English, Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perh. bef. 1000

Can., 
    1. Place NamesCanada.
    2. Place NamesCanadian.

can., 
    1. canceled.
    2. canon.
    3. canto.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
can /kæn; (unstressed) kən/ vb ( past could)
takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive: (intransitive)
  1. used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task: I can run a mile in under four minutes
  2. used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something: can I have a drink?
  3. used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something
  4. used as an auxiliary to indicate possibility, opportunity, or likelihood
Etymology: Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognōscere to know, Sanskrit jānāti he knows; see ken, uncouthUSAGE: See may1
can /kæn/ n
  1. a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal: a petrol can, a beer can
  2. Also called: canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold
  3. US Canadian
  4. US Canadian slang the buttocks
  5. US
  6. a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film
  7. can of worms ⇒ informal a complicated problem
  8. carry the can ⇒
  9. in the can ⇒
    • (of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc
    • informal arranged or agreed: the contract is almost in the can
  10. kick the can down the road ⇒
vb (cans, canning, canned)
  1. to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can
Etymology: Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Can. abbreviation for
  1. Canada
  2. Canadian
'can I' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "can I" in the title:

" i can not be distracted by other people " = " i would not be distracted by other people"?
" i can save my time for going there = it takes less time to go there ?"
- I'm self-employed, I do a mixture of everything that I can
... at the same time, <I can> visit...
..., so I can play with (it)
...all I can advise you is to/ you is hold on to/is you to hold on to...
...as many...as I can.
...backpacks can use/can be used/that I can use/ that can be used.
...<what I can do><What can do I>...
...whatever the girlfriend I can have?
...who I can't identify with [too]
..is so difficult a problem that I can’t solve
''I can't say but I finally *cut bait* ''
'~, or he and I will fall out, <I can tell him>!'
'I, too, can't ...' /'I can't ... either'
'I've done a bit of Latin in my time . . . but I can control it.'
'Twenty bucks says I can...'
'Which I can't ...' vs 'But I can't ... '
‘Till I can’t help it.’
“Can I ask where you are from?”
“I can’t do a thing with my hair.” “I can totally relate.”
“I have been married” Can it be understood as a passive voice？
“What can I convince the voting public is true?”
(?) Is there what I can do for you? / Do I have what I can do for you?
(are)Is there any way(s) that I can stay in your arms
(I can't) go there vs come there - a specific case
(I'll) see if I can find
(The) best I can do is have you accompany us.
#goals and i can't even
~till I can see () my way through this game and out of here
more...

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