English / word

could

modal_verb A1

MEANING IN ENGLISH

past ability, possibility, or a polite way to ask

Used to indicate possibility, ability, or permission in the past or as a polite suggestion.

In context

I could swim when I was a child.

Could you check my CV?

Synonyms

might,would,should

Antonyms

cannot,must not

Collocations

could be,could have,could not