Similar words: would, should, heart and soul, coup, court, course, couch, cousin. Meaning: [kæn;kən] 
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.7. Obs. to know. [bef. 900; ME, OE, pres. ind. sing. 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; c. G, ON, Goth kann; see KEN, KNOW]Usage. 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.canned|canning|cans|could/kan/, n., v., canned, canning.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. a drinking cup; tankard. 5. a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels. 6. Slang. (usually vulgar). toilet; bathroom. 7. Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week. 8. Slang. (sometimes vulgar). buttocks. 9. Mil. Slang. a depth charge. a destroyer. 10. carry the can, Brit. and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility. 11. in the can, recorded on film; completed: The movie is in the can and ready for release. v.t.12. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc. 13. Slang. to dismiss; fire. 14. Slang. to throw (something) away. 15. Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise! 16. to record, as on film or tape. [bef. 1000; ME, OE canne, c. G Kanne, ON kanna, all perh. < WGmc; cf. LL canna small vessel], /kood/; unstressed /keuhd/, v.1. a pt. of can1. auxiliary verb.2. (used to express possibility): I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true. 3. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried. 4. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? 5. (used in asking for permission): Could I borrow your pen? 6. (used in offering suggestions or advice): You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me..
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.7. Obs. to know. [bef. 900; ME, OE, pres. ind. sing. 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; c. G, ON, Goth kann; see KEN, KNOW]Usage. 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.canned|canning|cans|could/kan/, n., v., canned, canning.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. a drinking cup; tankard. 5. a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels. 6. Slang. (usually vulgar). toilet; bathroom. 7. Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week. 8. Slang. (sometimes vulgar). buttocks. 9. Mil. Slang. a depth charge. a destroyer. 10. carry the can, Brit. and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility. 11. in the can, recorded on film; completed: The movie is in the can and ready for release. v.t.12. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc. 13. Slang. to dismiss; fire. 14. Slang. to throw (something) away. 15. Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise! 16. to record, as on film or tape. [bef. 1000; ME, OE canne, c. G Kanne, ON kanna, all perh. < WGmc; cf. LL canna small vessel], /kood/; unstressed /keuhd/, v.1. a pt. of can1. auxiliary verb.2. (used to express possibility): I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true. 3. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried. 4. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? 5. (used in asking for permission): Could I borrow your pen? 6. (used in offering suggestions or advice): You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me.. 121. He could have died after developing deep vein thrombosis during a flight to Sydney.
122. In the gloom I could only just discern the outline of a building.
123. God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.
124. His plan was such a success that even his original critics could scarcely forbear from congratulating him.
125. His muse had deserted him, and he could no longer write.
126. These investment arrangements could be Trojan horses for anti-competitive monopolies.
127. I could not find my pencil because it was covered up by the newspapers.
128. The little girl could only remember her numbers by counting out.
129. He was in a dilemma,(www.Sentencedict.com) and could see no way out.
130. If I could live my life over again,I would go to college.
131. He found he could no longer cope with his demanding job.
132. Enter our competition and you could walk away with ￡10,000.
133. The government brought in a controversial law under which it could take any land it wanted.
134. It is unlikely that his forces could withstand an allied onslaught for very long.
135. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could.
136. Distantly, to her right, she could make out the town of Chiffa.
137. I've never seen anyone who could hold forth so long.
138. He was so shocked that he could hardly bring out a word.
139. True friends could get you through the hard times, the sad times, and the confused times.
140. Feeling a cold coming on, you could get into bed and sweat it out.
141. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be.
142. By next year you could be sitting as a High Court judge.
143. A new machine no bigger than a 10p piece could help save babies from cot death.
144. How I wish I could go back in time and meet myself as a kid.
145. I could tell by his face that he was angry.
146. I couldn't see how I could get home from the station - then I had a brainwave, Eric could meet me.
147. We would appreciate it if you could send us your comments.
148. I could just make out a tall, pale, shadowy figure tramping through the undergrowth.
149. This job is so boring. I wish I could do something more creative.
150. He could feel his fingers growing numb at their tips.
More similar words: would, should, heart and soul, coup, court, course, couch, cousin, county, couple, country, of course, counter, council, account, count out, count on, discount, courtroom, encourage, discourse, discourage, counselor, courageous, account for, a couple of, encouraging, in due course, accounting, discouraged.