ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cancelled

v.
A2 Elementary US //ˈkænsəɫd// UK //kˈænsəld// can·celled

v. to decide that a planned event will not happen. You use this when you stop a meeting, a trip, or a service you no longer want.

v. to decide or announce that a planned event will not take place; to annul or invalidate a previous arrangement. Past tense or past participle form of 'cancel'.


SIMPLE

The school cancelled the football match because of the rain.

CONTEXTUAL

The airline cancelled our flight at the last minute, leaving us stranded at the airport for several hours.

COMPLEX

The committee eventually cancelled the project after concluding that the projected costs far outweighed any potential long-term benefits to the local community.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. In British English, it is spelled with a double 'l' (cancelled), while American English typically uses a single 'l' (canceled).

Pitfall

The meeting was cancelled because of it rained.The meeting was cancelled because it rained.Learners often confuse 'because' with 'because of'; 'because' must be followed by a clause with a subject and verb.

© 2026 English Reference