cannot meet with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot meet with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an inability to have a meeting or encounter with someone. Example: "I regret to inform you that I cannot meet with you this week due to prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

This staff member's movements are very much restricted within Afghanistan as she must travel with a mehram and cannot meet with senior authorities or attend formal meetings within Afghanistan.

Unicef

Benzema was also placed under judicial supervision, meaning he cannot meet with the victim or other people charged in the case.

The Guardian - Sport

If the copies of message are injected to the nodes which have lower credibility, in the later injection stage, the nodes cannot meet with the nodes injected for a long time to make the injected delay of the copies of message large.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

One reason Murray Energy may have terminated its contract with Faegre Baker Daniels is that, under the Trump administration's own ethics pledge, officials cannot meet with former employers for two years after taking office.

Huffington Post

There is always some reason why the Craigslist scammer cannot meet with you.

WikiHow

Though you cannot meet with them face-to-face, you can read their memoirs, journals, or a biography.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He responded by turning the matter into a feminist issue, asking how women who cannot meet privately with their bosses could ever hope to get ahead.

The New York Times

By then, he had assembled an entourage of local elders to join us — because, Tomás explained, such a leader cannot meet alone with a white man lest he later be accused of having betrayed the interests of his community.

The New Yorker

"We cannot meet this news with further inertia.

The Guardian

Besides, the subcellular localization of a protein can also affect the phosphorylation process substantially; because kinases and their substrates cannot meet and interact with each other if they are not localized to the same cellular compartment.

Plosone

The conclusion that Jane announced is that you cannot meet the goal even with California's larger than average big hydro and geothermal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot meet with", clarify the reason for the inability to meet, such as prior commitments or restrictions, to maintain transparency and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using passive constructions that obscure the subject. Instead of saying "a meeting cannot be met with", specify who cannot meet and why.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot meet with" functions as a declarative statement expressing an inability or prohibition to have a meeting. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of the phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot meet with" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to convey the inability to have a meeting or interaction. As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression is valid in English.

While "cannot meet with" is appropriate in various contexts, including news and business, it's advisable to provide a clear explanation for the inability. Alternatives like "unable to meet" or "incapable of meeting" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When writing, avoid passive constructions that obscure the subject performing the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to meet

Replaces "cannot" with "unable", offering a more formal tone.

unable to arrange a meeting

More specific; suggests the impossibility of organizing a meeting.

incapable of meeting

Uses "incapable" instead of "cannot", implying a lack of ability.

not able to meet

A more descriptive version, expanding "cannot" to "not able to".

prevented from meeting

Emphasizes an external force hindering the meeting.

prohibited from meeting

Indicates that there is a formal ban to meet.

not permitted to meet

Uses "not permitted" suggesting a lack of authorization.

meeting is not possible

Shifts the focus to the meeting itself being unfeasible.

a meeting is unfeasible

Emphasizes unfeasibility of the meeting.

will not be meeting

Focuses on future intent; a decision not to meet.

FAQs

What does "cannot meet with" mean?

It means being unable to have a meeting or encounter with someone, often due to scheduling conflicts, restrictions, or other reasons.

What can I say instead of "cannot meet with"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to meet", "unable to arrange a meeting", or "incapable of meeting" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can't meet with"?

Yes, "can't meet with" is a contraction of "cannot meet with" and is acceptable in informal contexts. However, "cannot meet with" is generally preferred in more formal writing.

How do I politely decline a meeting request using "cannot meet with"?

You can say, "I regret that I cannot meet with you at this time due to prior commitments. I'm happy to reschedule for a later date".