Pronunciation

/kənˈsel/

Definitions

• Verb: To invalidate or nullify something, such as a booking, reservation, or plan. (n.): An act of canceling.
• Noun: The act of canceling, or the state of being canceled. (adj.): Cancelled or non-existent.

Phrases

• “Cancel an appointment” means to officially remove a scheduled meeting or event.
• “Cancel out” refers to neutralizing or offsetting something.
• “Cancelled flight” is a common phrase for a flight that has been called off.

Example Sentences

• Verb: “I had to cancel my dinner reservation due to an unexpected work commitment.”
• Noun: “The concert was cancelled because of heavy rain.”
• Adjective: “Many people were disappointed with the cancelled film festival.”

Synonyms

• Revoke
• Rescind
• Abolish
• Postpone
• Invalidate
• Annul
• Erase

Antonyms

• Confirm
• Book
• Schedule
• Renew
• Keep

Usage Notes

• The verb “cancel” can be followed by an infinitive (e.g., “cancel to go”) or a noun (e.g., “cancel the meeting”).
• In informal contexts, “cancel” may be abbreviated as “can” or “cancelling” (British English).
• The past tense is “cancelled” or “canceled” (American English), with the -l spelling being more common outside of the US.