Phrase guide

can't help

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be unable to avoid a situation, or stop something from happening.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, no-past-participle, no-present-participle

Examples

  • I can't help crying whenever I see Romeo and Juliet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 忍唔住 (jan2 m4 zyu6) — not be able to avoid something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 忍不住 (rěnbuzhù) — not be able to avoid something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不禁 (bùjīn) — not be able to avoid something
  • French: être plus fort que soi — not be able to avoid something
  • French: ne pas pouvoir s'empêcher de — not be able to avoid something
  • French: ne rien pouvoir y faire — not be able to avoid something
  • German: nicht umhin können — not be able to avoid something
  • German: nicht lassen können — not be able to avoid something
  • German: nicht anders können als — not be able to avoid something
  • Italian: non poter fare a meno di — not be able to avoid something
  • Italian: non potere fare a meno di — not be able to avoid something
  • Italian: non poterci fare niente — not be able to avoid something
  • Japanese: ...しないではいられない (...shinaide wa irarenai) — not be able to avoid something
  • Korean: 안 ... ᆯ(할) 수 없다 — not be able to avoid something
  • Polish: nie móc nic poradzić — not be able to avoid something
  • Polish: nie móc przestać — not be able to avoid something
  • Polish: nie móc się powstrzymać — not be able to avoid something
  • Portuguese: não conseguir evitar — not be able to avoid something
  • Portuguese: não conseguir deixar de — not be able to avoid something
  • Russian: не мочь не (ne močʹ ne) — not be able to avoid something
  • Spanish: no poder evitar — not be able to avoid something
  • Spanish: no poder dejar de — not be able to avoid something
  • Swedish: inte kunna låta bli — not be able to avoid something
  • Swedish: inte rå för — not be able to avoid something
  • Swedish: inte kunna rå för — not be able to avoid something