can't even

/ˈkænt ˌiːvən//ˈkɑːnt ˌiːvən/

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see can't, even.

“He’s nine years old, and can’t even tie his own shoelaces!”

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Meanings

verbcan't even (third-person singular simple present can't even, no present participle, simple past couldn't even, no past participle)

past couldn't even

  1. no past participleno present participleUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see can't, even.

    He’s nine years old, and can’t even tie his own shoelaces!

  2. no past participleno present participleslangWithout a following verb, as an expression of aporia: to be unable to express one's feelings about an overwhelming situation.

    Oh my God, I got cheap tickets to the Beyoncé concert! I can’t even!

    1 more example

    I – being a MASSIVE IDIOT – had a go at him… then agreed to meet up again, but before that happened he… ghosted me again. I tracked him down on Facebook and and^([sic]) he said his new phone had got water damage (I can’t even).

    2019 October 23, Hayley Quinn, Paisley Gilmour, “An essential guide to 'zombieing' - the dating trend that's worse than ghosting”, in Cosmopolitan

Origin

An aposiopesis of "(I) can't even believe it", "can't even process it" or some comparable expression.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

can't even. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can't%20even

MLA

“can't even.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can't%20even. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “can't even,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can't%20even.

Source: can't even on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.