canceling

IPA/ˈkæn.səl/
KK[kˈænsəlɪŋ]IPA/ˈkæn.səl/

canceling — verb

  • cancelingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • cancelings3rd person singular
  • cancelinging-ing form
  • cancelingedpast simple

1. to call off a planned event so it does not take place, or to inform a shop or co

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

to call off a planned event so it does not take place, or to inform a shop or company you have changed your mind about an order you placed

例句

Imran canceled his flight to Tokyo after his meeting was rescheduled.

canceled + flight (service order)

The festival organizers canceled the outdoor concert when the weather forecast showed heavy rain.

同義詞
  • call off

    more informal; often used for events or plans

  • scrap

    more informal; suggests abandoning something completely

反義詞
  • confirm

    to say that a planned event will definitely happen

  • schedule

    to arrange for something to happen at a particular time

文法句型

cancel + noun phrase

be canceled (passive)

cancel (intransitive: event cancels)

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive: 'The wedding was canceled due to a family emergency.' The intransitive use ('The show canceled') is less common and mainly informal; most learners should use the passive instead.

常見錯誤

I canceled the meeting by myself' (when the meeting was called off generally).
I canceled the meeting because too few people could attend.
💡The subject of 'cancel' must be the person or group with the authority to decide.

2. to stop making and broadcasting a television programme, usually because the numb

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to stop making and broadcasting a television programme, usually because the number of people watching it has fallen too low

例句

The network canceled the drama series after only six episodes.

canceled + TV series

Shirin was disappointed when her favorite late-night show was canceled due to low ratings.

同義詞
  • axe

    informal; used in British English for TV shows or projects cut abruptly

  • pull

    informal; 'pull the show from the schedule'

反義詞
  • renew

    to decide to continue a TV series for another season

文法句型

cancel + TV show/series

be canceled (passive)

用法筆記

Almost always transitive. The passive form ('The show was canceled') is very common when the focus is on the programme rather than the network making the decision.

3. to have an equal and opposite effect so that two things balance or neutralize ea

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to have an equal and opposite effect so that two things balance or neutralize each other; often used with 'out'

例句

The discount on the hotel room canceled out the extra fee for the late check-in.

canceled out (offset)

Her high score on the final exam canceled out her weak performance earlier in the semester.

同義詞
  • offset

    more formal; one thing compensates for another

  • neutralize

    suggests removing the effect of something

  • counterbalance

    formal; equal weight on both sides

反義詞
  • amplify

    to make something stronger or larger

文法句型

cancel + noun phrase + out

cancel each other out

cancel out

用法筆記

Often used with 'out' for the transitive meaning ('cancel something out' / 'cancel out something'). For the intransitive meaning, the pattern 'cancel each other out' or 'cancel out' is very common: 'The gains and losses canceled each other out.'

常見錯誤

The two numbers canceled.' (too vague)
The two numbers canceled each other out.
💡The 'each other out' pattern makes the reciprocal meaning clear.

4. to print or stamp a mark on a postage stamp to show that it has been used and ca

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to print or stamp a mark on a postage stamp to show that it has been used and cannot be used again

例句

The postal worker canceled the stamp with a machine before sorting the letters.

canceled the stamp

Mei noticed that the stamp on her aunt's postcard had been canceled with a faint blue mark.

同義詞
  • postmark

    more specific; refers to applying a dated mark, usually including the location

文法句型

cancel + stamp

用法筆記

This sense is specific to postal services. The stamp is marked so it cannot be reused. A canceled stamp is different from an unused stamp, which collectors often value more highly.

5. to withdraw public support from a famous person, company, or organization becaus

5.動詞及物B2
釋義

to withdraw public support from a famous person, company, or organization because of something they said or did that people find unacceptable or harmful, often by campaigning on social media

例句

Fans threatened to cancel the actor after his offensive comments went viral online.

cancel + person

Kofi argued that canceling someone on social media rarely leads to meaningful change.

同義詞
  • boycott

    more formal; refusing to buy from or support a company or person

  • ostracize

    more formal; excluding someone from a group socially

反義詞
  • support

    to continue to back someone publicly

文法句型

cancel + person/company

get canceled (passive)

用法筆記

This modern sense comes from internet culture and 'cancel culture.' The subject is usually a group of people on social media, and the object is a public figure, a brand, or an institution. Often used in passive: 'He was canceled after old tweets resurfaced.'

常見錯誤

I canceled my friend for being late.
The singer was canceled after the video showed her making racist remarks.
💡'Cancel' in this sense refers to a public, collective rejection, not personal disagreements with friends.

canceling — noun