Phrase guide

can is can

phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Singapore: /ˈkæn ɪz ˈkæn/
  • Singapore: [ˈkhɛn˦ ɪs˨ ˈkhɛn˦]
  • Singapore: [- ˈkhɛn˦˧]
  • Singapore, variant: [- ˈkhɛn˨˦] for sense 1 before a pause in speech

1

phrase

Meaning 1

While something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Singapore, Singlish

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

phrase

Meaning 2

Used to reassure someone that something is definitely possible or doable, by reinforcing the definitiveness of a previous statement of can.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Singapore, Singlish

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See can (“fine, acceptable, possible”, Singlish, intransitive).