cannot
cannot Lexical Profile
cannot Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be unable to do something or lack the capacity, skill, or means to act (used as the negative form of the modal auxiliary 'can').
"The researcher cannot complete the analysis until the final dataset arrives from the laboratory."
To not be permitted or allowed to do something due to rules, laws, or circumstances (used as a modal auxiliary).
"Visitors cannot enter the conservation area without an authorized guide."
To be impossible or logically inconceivable that something is the case (used as a modal auxiliary).
"That calculation cannot be accurate given the initial measurements we recorded."
Word Nuance & Usage
Written as a single word in standard English, except when 'not' is part of another construction such as 'not only ... but also' (e.g., 'We can not only survive, we can thrive') or when placing heavy contrastive emphasis on the negation.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English around 1400 as a fused compound of the modal auxiliary 'can' and the negative adverb 'not'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.