When something is canceled, it means an event or plan that was going to happen has been called off. For example, a concert might be canceled if the singer gets sick. Or, a meeting can be canceled if people can't attend. As an adjective, it describes something that has been stopped or invalidated, like a canceled flight.
At the C1 proficiency level, understanding 'canceled' extends beyond its basic definition to encompass its nuanced applications. As the past tense and past participle of 'cancel,' it signifies the definitive termination of an event, plan, or arrangement. Furthermore, its adjectival usage denotes something formally revoked, invalidated, or abolished, implying a state of cessation that is often official or publicly acknowledged. This can range from a canceled flight to a canceled subscription, or even a canceled check. The term carries a sense of finality, underscoring a deliberate decision to halt progress or existence.
canceled in 30 Seconds
- Stopped or called off.
- An event or plan that will no longer occur.
- To decide that a scheduled event will not take place.
How Formal Is It?
"The offer of employment was rescinded due to unforeseen circumstances."
"The flight was canceled due to bad weather."
"They nixed our plans for the weekend."
"The picnic was called off because it started to rain."
"My friend yeeted our plans to hang out."
Grammar to Know
Use 'canceled' as the simple past tense of 'cancel' when referring to a completed action in the past.
The concert was canceled due to bad weather.
Use 'canceled' as the past participle in passive voice constructions.
All flights have been canceled until further notice.
Use 'canceled' as an adjective to describe something that has been called off or invalidated.
She received a refund for her canceled reservation.
When 'canceled' is used as an adjective, it typically comes before the noun it modifies.
We had to reschedule the canceled meeting.
Note the American English spelling 'canceled' with one 'l' in the past tense and past participle form. British English typically uses 'cancelled' with two 'l's.
(American English) The game was canceled. (British English) The game was cancelled.
Examples by Level
The concert was canceled because of the rain.
El concierto fue cancelado por la lluvia.
Simple past passive voice.
She canceled her plans to go to the park.
Ella canceló sus planes de ir al parque.
Simple past active voice.
The bus trip was canceled.
El viaje en autobús fue cancelado.
Simple past passive voice.
He canceled his doctor's appointment.
Él canceló su cita con el médico.
Simple past active voice.
They canceled their flight.
Ellos cancelaron su vuelo.
Simple past active voice.
Our picnic was canceled.
Nuestro picnic fue cancelado.
Simple past passive voice.
I canceled my order for the book.
Cancelé mi pedido del libro.
Simple past active voice.
The game was canceled due to bad weather.
El partido fue cancelado debido al mal tiempo.
Simple past passive voice.
Idioms & Expressions
"Cancel culture"
A modern phenomenon where public figures or organizations are boycotted or ostracized due to controversial actions or statements.
The actor was a victim of cancel culture after his old tweets resurfaced.
informal"Cancel out"
To neutralize or negate the effect of something else.
The positive effects of the medication were canceled out by the negative side effects.
neutral"Cancel a subscription"
To stop receiving a service or publication that one has been paying for regularly.
I need to cancel my gym subscription because I'm moving.
neutral"Cancel a check"
To invalidate a check that has already been written but not yet cashed.
I had to cancel the check because I made a mistake in the amount.
neutral"Cancel someone's plans"
To cause someone to have to change or abandon their pre-arranged activities.
A sudden work emergency canceled my plans for the weekend.
neutral"Cancel a flight"
To announce that a scheduled airplane journey will not take place.
Due to the severe weather, the airline had to cancel several flights.
neutral"Cancel a booking"
To formally withdraw a reservation for a service, such as a hotel room or a table at a restaurant.
We had to cancel our restaurant booking at the last minute.
neutral"Cancel an order"
To withdraw a request for goods or services before they are delivered or performed.
I decided to cancel my online order because I found a better deal elsewhere.
neutral"To be canceled (colloquial)"
To be removed or rejected from a social group or platform, often due to perceived offensive behavior.
After his controversial comments, he was effectively canceled by his fan base.
informal"Cancel on someone"
To abruptly withdraw from a planned meeting or activity with someone.
She canceled on me at the last minute, and I was left with no one to go with.
informalWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, canceled can be used for both events and subscriptions. For example, 'The concert was canceled' or 'I canceled my gym membership'.
Canceled means an event will not happen at all, while postponed means it will happen at a later date. For example, 'The flight was canceled' means it's not flying, but 'The flight was postponed until tomorrow' means it will fly later.
Yes, both 'canceled' (American English) and 'cancelled' (British English) are correct spellings of the past tense of 'cancel'. You can use either, just be consistent within your writing.
As an adjective, canceled describes something that has been officially stopped or invalidated. For example, 'The canceled project was a disappointment' or 'She had a canceled flight'.
No, you wouldn't typically say 'I am canceled.' You would say 'My plans were canceled' or 'I had to cancel my plans.' The word canceled usually refers to the event or arrangement itself, not the person.
Some synonyms for canceled include 'called off,' 'stopped,' 'aborted,' or 'annulled.' The best synonym often depends on the specific context.
Both are grammatically correct. 'I canceled the meeting' is in the active voice and is more direct. 'The meeting was canceled by me' is in the passive voice and emphasizes the meeting's status, though it's less common for direct actions.
Not necessarily. While a canceled event can be disappointing, canceling something like a subscription can be a positive action for you. The meaning of canceled is simply 'to stop or invalidate,' which can have different implications depending on the context.
Yes, in modern informal usage, 'canceled' can refer to a person being publicly ostracized or boycotted, often in the context of 'cancel culture.' However, this is a more recent and specific use of the word, and not its traditional definition.
Canceled refers to the termination of a plan, event, or agreement. Broken refers to something being damaged or not working correctly. For example, 'The event was canceled' (it won't happen), but 'The car is broken' (it doesn't work).
Test Yourself 42 questions
This is a simple declarative sentence in English, stating that the game was called off. The order of words is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
This sentence follows a basic Subject-Verb-Object structure, indicating that 'she' made the decision to not go on her trip.
This is a simple 'yes' or 'no' question. In English, to form a question with 'to be', the verb comes before the subject.
Write a short sentence about an event that was canceled because of bad weather.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
The outdoor concert was canceled due to heavy rain.
Imagine you had plans to meet a friend, but something came up. Write a message to your friend explaining that you have to cancel.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hi! I'm so sorry, but I have to cancel our coffee plans today. Something important came up.
Write a sentence using 'canceled' as an adjective to describe something that is no longer valid.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
My canceled train ticket meant I couldn't travel.
Why was the school play canceled?
Read this passage:
The school play was scheduled for Friday evening. However, many students were sick with the flu. Because of this, the principal decided to cancel the play. They hope to reschedule it for next month.
Why was the school play canceled?
The passage states, 'many students were sick with the flu. Because of this, the principal decided to cancel the play.'
The passage states, 'many students were sick with the flu. Because of this, the principal decided to cancel the play.'
What happened to Sarah's restaurant reservation?
Read this passage:
Sarah had a reservation at her favorite restaurant for dinner on Saturday. Unfortunately, the restaurant had a problem with its kitchen and had to close for repairs. Sarah's reservation was canceled, and she had to find another place to eat.
What happened to Sarah's restaurant reservation?
The passage says, 'Sarah's reservation was canceled, and she had to find another place to eat.'
The passage says, 'Sarah's reservation was canceled, and she had to find another place to eat.'
What was the final status of the flight to London?
Read this passage:
The flight to London was delayed for several hours due to a mechanical issue. After waiting for a long time, the airline announced that the flight was completely canceled. All the passengers had to rebook their travel.
What was the final status of the flight to London?
The passage states, 'the airline announced that the flight was completely canceled.'
The passage states, 'the airline announced that the flight was completely canceled.'
This sentence describes why a flight did not happen.
This sentence explains the reason for canceling an appointment.
This sentence indicates that an event is stopped indefinitely.
Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, the highly anticipated concert was officially ___ just hours before it was scheduled to begin.
The word 'canceled' is the most appropriate as it implies a definitive stopping of the event, rather than just a delay or rescheduling.
The meeting was ___ because several key participants were unable to attend at the last minute.
When an event is stopped altogether due to unforeseen circumstances, 'canceled' is the correct term.
All flights to the affected region were ___ until further notice due to the severe weather conditions.
'Canceled' accurately describes flights that have been permanently stopped.
Her appointment was ___ after she informed the clinic she was feeling unwell.
To 'cancel' an appointment means to officially stop it from happening.
The company's new project was ___ due to budget cuts and a shift in strategic priorities.
When a project is permanently stopped, 'canceled' is the most fitting description.
The subscription was automatically ___ after the trial period expired without a renewal.
'Canceled' is commonly used for subscriptions that are officially stopped.
The concert was ___ due to unforeseen circumstances.
The word 'canceled' means that the event will not take place at all, which fits the context of unforeseen circumstances leading to its complete stoppage.
After reviewing the evidence, the judge ___ the previous verdict.
In a legal context, 'canceled' can mean to officially invalidate or stop something, such as a verdict.
Despite thorough planning, the project was ultimately ___ due to lack of funding.
A project that stops due to lack of funding is 'canceled,' meaning it will not proceed as planned.
If a flight is canceled, it means it will definitely depart at a later time.
A canceled flight means it will not depart at all. If it were to depart later, it would be 'postponed' or 'delayed.'
A canceled subscription implies that the service will continue without interruption.
A canceled subscription means the service has been stopped and will no longer continue.
When a public event is canceled, it usually means it has been called off entirely.
To 'cancel' a public event means to officially decide that it will not take place, implying it has been called off completely.
The reason for the flight's cancellation.
What she canceled and why.
What happened to the concert tickets.
Read this aloud:
Could you explain why the event was canceled at such short notice?
Focus: canceled, short notice
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
I'm calling to inquire about the possibility of canceling my order.
Focus: inquire, canceling, order
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Despite the announcement, many people were still unaware that the train had been canceled.
Focus: unaware, canceled, train
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The highly anticipated merger between the two corporate giants was ultimately ___ due to insurmountable regulatory hurdles and a last-minute disagreement on valuation.
The context implies a complete halt to the merger, making 'canceled' the most fitting term. 'Postponed' suggests a delay, while 'finalized' and 'restructured' indicate completion or alteration, neither of which aligns with the failure of the merger.
Despite meticulous planning, the grand charity gala had to be ___ at the eleventh hour after the venue unexpectedly declared bankruptcy, leaving organizers scrambling.
The unexpected bankruptcy of the venue indicates a complete termination of the gala, not just a rescheduling. 'Commenced' means started, and 'delegated' means assigned, neither of which fits the scenario.
The ambitious space mission, plagued by technical malfunctions and budget overruns, was ultimately ___ indefinitely, much to the dismay of the scientific community.
The phrase 'indefinitely' combined with 'plagued by technical malfunctions and budget overruns' suggests a permanent termination rather than a mere delay, making 'canceled' the most appropriate choice.
A flight that has been 'canceled' can still depart at a later time on the same day.
If a flight is canceled, it means the scheduled departure will not happen at all. A flight that departs later would typically be 'delayed' or 'rescheduled,' not 'canceled.'
If a concert is 'canceled' due to unforeseen circumstances, attendees are usually entitled to a refund or an alternative arrangement.
When an event is canceled, it means it will not take place. In such cases, it is standard practice for organizers to offer refunds or alternative solutions to ticket holders.
A 'canceled' subscription typically means that the service will continue until the end of the current billing cycle, but will not renew automatically.
While 'canceled' implies termination, many subscription services allow users to retain access until the paid period expires, after which the service ceases and does not auto-renew.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Canceled means an event or plan has been stopped or invalidated.
- Stopped or called off.
- An event or plan that will no longer occur.
- To decide that a scheduled event will not take place.
