Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

can but hope

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.37 in modern English

Syllables: can but hope
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

1

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be unable to do anything (about something) other than hope [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not]; especially with long odds.

British usage; Dated

Example Sentences

"We can but hope that he returns alive."

Etymology

Ellipsis of can do nothing but hope or can do naught but hope.

Usage

British usage
Dated

Inflected Forms

could but hope (past)

Questions

What does can but hope mean?: To be unable to do anything (about something) other than hope [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not]; especially with long odds.
Where does can but hope come from?: Ellipsis of can do nothing but hope or can do naught but hope.

How to pronounce can but hope

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “can but hope”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “can but hope”.
Repeat and practice — Say “can but hope” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.