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.. 181. She felt a nagging anxiety that could not be relieved.
182. In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.
183. Could you clarify the first point please? I don't understand it completely.
184. No one could help getting carried away by the hysteria.
185. We could probably trust her with the information but it's just not worth the risk.
186. We could just hear the distant wail of a siren.
187. The lights changed to red before I could get across.
188. You know, it occurs to me you could solve all your problems by obtaining more money.
189. We could walk uptown or we could take the train.
190. If the weather's nice we could have a picnic in the park.
191. She could hear the thud of her own heartbeat sounding heavily in her ears.
192. Anyone who betrayed the cult could be punished by death.
193. The whole house could do with a fresh coat of paint .
194. I didn't think that I could ever trust happiness. Then I met you.
195. We will miss him as a worker amongst us and also as a cheerful friend who could always brighten the day around here.
196. Before the hunter could take aim (Sentencedict.com), the deer jumped out of sight.
197. I could hardly believe my luck when he said yes.
198. He could tell at a glance what is wrong with a bike.
199. The flimsy structure of the vehicle could not withstand even mild impacts.
200. She was unceremoniously dumped to be replaced by a leader who could win the election.
201. Before we could build we had to fire bricks and carry timber from the forests.
202. He was so impatient that I could hardly hold him back.
203. I've no change, could you put these eggs on the slate?
204. My greetings come with affection for the nicest kind of birthday that could be wished for you.When this day comes to an end and you lie down to rest,may the peace of a golden dream be filled with happiness.
205. She could see only the outline of the trees in the dim light.
206. The scandal could damage her reputation but the press reported it anyhow.
207. Could you help me to pick out the yellow pieces?
208. A spokesman declined to comment until the evidence could be studied further.
209. If I thought I could get away with it, I wouldn't pay any tax at all.
210. I could make out a dark figure in the twilight.
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.