can 1 of 2

verb

ˈkan How to pronounce can (audio)
Definition of cannext
1
as in to stop
slang to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to let go from office, service, or employment the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

can

2 of 2

noun

ˈkan How to pronounce can (audio)
1
as in tin
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restroom
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste I excused myself and asked if I could use the can

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits he fell on the ice and landed on his can

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of can
Noun
Since it’s produced, and measured in dollars, short of the productive placing their dollars in coffee cans, their surplus will be loaned and invested. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Photos released by state police showed the tractor-trailer lying on its side, with cans of Michelob Ultra and Bud Light strewn across the roadway. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 Items including coolers, folding chairs, frisbees, balls, metal drink containers and aerosol cans — including spray sunscreen — are prohibited. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Paris Barraza Eventgoers at America’s Block Party Benefit Show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are snapping photos with a President Abraham Lincoln on stilts, playing corn hole – known as bags to some – and carrying cans of beer. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for can
Recent Examples of Synonyms for can
  1. stop
  2. remove
  3. tin
  4. jail
  5. restroom
  6. seat
  7. cease
  8. dismiss
Verb
  • When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Making new friends isn’t something that has to stop at a certain point in your life.
    — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Three of the reports stemmed from consumers swallowing the metal pieces and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat, the agency said.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Residents objected to removing trees and other construction activities.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of remove
Noun
  • Local governments have opened emergency shelters, which have been nearing capacity, as residents in low-lying areas and those living in wood and tin homes have especially sought refuge.
    — Kristin Wright, NPR, 5 July 2026
  • Fortunately, that something can be as easy as spicing it with ginger, perfuming it with florals or smoke, or easier still and our favorite version, adding a grapefruit peel to the shaker tin before shaking on ice.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Definition of tin
Noun
  • The driver of the fleeing vehicle was booked into the Wyandotte County Detention Center, according to the jail’s inmate listing.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • Epstein served about 13 months in a Florida jail, and was often permitted to leave the jail on work release.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of jail
Noun
  • With the facilities unavailable, Caltrans is encouraging travelers to plan ahead by identifying alternate places to stop for fuel, food, restroom breaks and rest before beginning their trip.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • It's equipped with two sofas and separate chairs that convert into multiple sleeping arrangements, along with two private in-room sinks, restrooms, and showers.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of restroom
Noun
  • Then there’s heated handlebars and seats, floorboards, highway pegs, brake and gear-lever pads, heel-shifter, and the King Tour-Pak, like the Street Glide Limited above.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • As of July 2, some of the best resale seats for marquee knockout matches were listed for roughly $20,000 on StubHub.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Sony Interactive Entertainment, the largest video game company in the world by direct revenue, will reportedly cease production of physical discs for its formidable library of games for the PlayStation console.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Founder David DeHaney, who set up the company in 2016, announced the decision to cease trading and appoint an administrator on Thursday.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of cease
Verb
  • In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dismiss

Browse Nearby Words

campy
can
can't-miss
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Cite this Entry

“Can.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/can. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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