cannot help but

Definition

Definition of cannot help but - Reverso English Dictionary

Verbal expression

no choice

cannot avoid doing something even if you want to stop

I cannot help but laugh at his jokes.
She cannot help but worry about her exams.
We cannot help but admire their dedication.

cannot help

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with cannot help but

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.

cannot help but get

feel compelled to experience something

I cannot help but get excited about the trip.

Expressions with cannot

cannot help

be unable to stop oneself from doing something

She cannot help laughing at his jokes.

cannot stand

feel strong dislike or intolerance for something

I cannot stand the noise from the construction.

you cannot please everyone

exp.

impossible to satisfy all people

She learned the hard way that you cannot please everyone.

cannot be ruled out

cannot be eliminated from consideration as a potential outcome or cause

Investigators said an equipment fault cannot be ruled out yet.

write cheques you cannot cash

make promises you cannot fulfill

He tends to write cheques you cannot cash with his big talk.

a leopard cannot change its spots

exp.

people cannot change their true nature or character

Despite his promises, a leopard cannot change its spots.

Expressions with help

help out

provide assistance to escape a difficult situation

He helped out his friend who was in debt..

beyond help

adj.

unable to be helped or improved by anyone

The old car is beyond help.

cannot help

be unable to stop oneself from doing something

She cannot help laughing at his jokes.

help along

assist someone or something to progress

She helped her friend along during tough times..

cry for help

plea or signal indicating need for assistance

His sudden silence was a cry for help that went unnoticed..

help is at hand

exp.

support will arrive very soon or is nearby

Stay calm, help is at hand.

help oneself

take food or drink without needing permission or an invitation

At the buffet, you can help yourself to any dish you like..

help yourself

serve yourself without assistance

Please help yourself to the snacks on the table.

can't help

cannot stop yourself from doing something

I can't help laughing at his jokes.

God helps those who help themselves

exp.

people who act to improve things are more likely to succeed

She started applying everywhere, saying God helps those who help themselves.

View all translations of cannot help but

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:ne pas pouvoir s'empêcher de, ...
German:nicht anders können als, ...
Italian:non poter fare a meno di, ...
Spanish:no poder evitar, ...
Portuguese:não poder deixar de, ...
Chinese:忍不住, ...
Japanese:つい〜してしまう, ...
Arabic:لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ إِلَّا أَنْ, ...
Hebrew:לֹא יָכוֹל שֶׁלֹּא, ...
Russian:не мочь не, ...
Ukrainian:не могти не, ...
Hindi:अपने आप को रोक न पाना, ...
Bengali:নিজেকে সামলাতে না পারা, ...
Catalan:no poder evitar, ...
Czech:neubránit se, ...
Danish:ikke kunne lade være med, ...
Dutch:niet anders kunnen dan, ...
Greek:δεν μπορώ παρά να, ...
Hungarian:nem tud nem, ...
Khmer:មិនអាចមិន, ...
Korean:~지 않을 수 없다, ...
Persian:خودداری کردن, ...
Polish:nie móc się powstrzymać, ...
Portuguese (BR):não poder deixar de, ...
Romanian:a nu se putea abține, ...
Swedish:kan inte låta bli att, ...
Thai:อดไม่ได้, ...
Turkish:kendini tutamamak, ...
Vietnamese:không thể không, ...

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.

Definition of cannot help but - Reverso English Dictionary

Verbal expression

Expressions with cannot help but

Expressions with cannot

Expressions with help

Terms related to cannot help but

View all translations of cannot help but

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery