could

/kʊd/
verb
  1. Used to express past ability or possibility.
    • They could not find their way home in the dark.
    • When I was younger, I could run a mile in six minutes.
    • She could hear the birds singing through the open window.
  2. Used to express a polite request or suggestion.
    • Could I borrow your pen for a moment?
    • Could you please pass the salt?
    • You could try calling her again later.
  3. Used to express a possibility or hypothetical situation.
    • If we left now, we could still catch the train.
    • That could be the solution to our problem.
    • It could rain later, so bring an umbrella.
Synonyms
What does "could" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean