How to Use Cancel Past Tense (Explained, Usage & Quiz)

What's the past tense of "cancel"?

The simple past tense of cancel is canceled in US English and cancelled in UK English. The past participle follows the same pattern.

Definition of cancel

The Oxford English Dictionary defines cancel as "to decide that something that had been arranged will now no longer happen or take place." It can also mean to make void, as in a contract or some other obligation.

• The past tense of cancel is canceled (US) or cancelled (UK).

• The past participle of cancel is canceled (US) or cancelled (UK).

Verb forms of 'cancel'

Is "cancel" a regular or irregular verb?

Note: Regular verbs end in -ed in the past tense. The spelling difference between "canceled" and "cancelled" is due to regional English conventions, not irregularity.

The verb 'cancel' demonstrates how regional spelling conventions can affect verb conjugation. In US English, it follows the standard -ed pattern, while UK English uses the double-L spelling convention.

When to use "canceled" vs "cancelled"

The event was canceled due to rain. (US English)

We cancelled the meeting. (UK English)

The choice between "canceled" and "cancelled" depends on whether you're using US or UK English conventions. Both are correct within their respective regional standards.

US English uses the single-L spelling (canceled), while UK English uses the double-L spelling (cancelled). This difference extends to the present participle as well: "canceling" (US) vs "cancelling" (UK).

Sentence examples: cancel, canceled, canceled

Synonyms & nearby words

Practice: "Cancel" conjugations