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DictionarycanAbility
verb

can

KUHN/kən/

To have the ability or permission to do something.

The child can reach the top of the climbing wall without help.

At a playground, a child reaches the top of a climbing wall without help while another adult watches with hands lowered, showing the child is able to do it.
Etymology
canOld Englishto know; to be able

The connection is between knowing and being able: knowing how to do something implies the ability to do it. Can preserves this practical sense of knowledge.

In context

TheKapers834:25
We can also track those changes over time on Wikipedia,
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Surely, we can tap into that kind of talent and tools
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More examples

  • You can borrow my pen until class ends.
  • He could swim across the pool when he was seven.
  • We can finish the work together before dinner.

Forms

can · could

Similar words

may
Often expresses permission or possibility, while can commonly expresses ability.