Can is usually used in standard spoken English when asking for permission. It is acceptable in most forms of written English, although in very formal writing, such as official instructions, may is often used instead: Persons under 14 unaccompanied by an adult may not enter. CAN definition: to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to. See examples of can used in a sentence. (countable) A can is a metal container, usually for holding food or drink. I drink cola from a can. Spaghetti hoops come in a can. A can is a metal container, usually cylindrical in shape, which has an airtight seal when it's new. All kinds of goods come in cans, from fruit and vegetables to paint and oil. I can't hear - can you turn the sound up? I can carry both bags - they're quite light. You can sing lower than me. Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts. Can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. Define can. can synonyms, can pronunciation, can translation, English dictionary definition of can. to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Can. If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.