Can: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in informal settings to express general ability or permission.

• I can swim.
• Can I borrow your pen?

Used for more formal settings or to emphasize the effort needed to achieve something.

• She will be able to complete the project on time.
• He was able to overcome his fears.

Suitable for formal contexts and often used to highlight specific skills or talents.

• She has the ability to solve complex problems.
• He has the ability to play multiple instruments.

Typically used in formal or technical contexts to refer to having the potential or capability, often in a broader or more systemic sense.

• This system has the capacity to handle large amounts of data.
• He has the capacity to inspire others.

Also refers to the ability to do something. This is not related to the physical object and refers to a different meaning.

• I can swim.
• Can you help me with this?

Primarily used in British English to refer to a small metal container, especially one for food. It can also refer to a thin metal sheet.

• He opened a tin of biscuits.
• The roof was repaired with a piece of tin.

A general term for any object that can hold or store items, often used in a variety of contexts including kitchen, storage, and shipping.

• She put the leftovers in a container.
• The shipping container was loaded onto the truck.

Specifically refers to a cylindrical metal container, mostly for food storage. Often implies a basic or low-cost item.

• They served fish from a tin can.
• We keep spare nails in an old tin can.