Pronunciation: /kænt/

Definitions of cant

noun a sudden movement in a particular direction

Example Sentences

A1 I can't go to the party tonight.

A2 She can't swim very well.

B1 His cant for sweets is well known among his friends.

B2 The author's cant for using complex vocabulary can be challenging for some readers.

C1 The politician's cant about lowering taxes seemed insincere.

C2 The artist's cant for creating thought-provoking sculptures is admired by art critics.

verb talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something

Example Sentences

A1 I can't swim.

A2 She can't speak Spanish.

B1 They can't attend the meeting tomorrow.

B2 He can't believe his luck.

C1 The company can't afford to lose any more clients.

C2 I can't possibly finish this project on time.

Examples of cant in a Sentence

formal I can't attend the meeting tomorrow due to a prior commitment.

informal I can't make it to the party tonight, sorry.

slang I just can't deal with all this drama right now.

figurative She can't see the forest for the trees, always focusing on the details instead of the big picture.

Grammatical Forms of cant

past tense

could

plural

can

comparative

more able

superlative

most able

present tense

can

future tense

will be able to

perfect tense

have been able to

continuous tense

am/is/are able to

singular

can

positive degree

able

infinitive

to be able

gerund

being able

participle

able

Origin and Evolution of cant

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'cant' originated from the Latin word 'cantare' meaning 'to sing' or 'to chant'. It later evolved to refer to the specialized language or jargon used by certain groups.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'cant' came to be associated with the secret language of criminals and beggars in the 17th century, and eventually evolved to refer to insincere or hypocritical talk in the 19th century.