Phrase guide

cannot but

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To have to; to cannot help; to be unable to do otherwise than.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: ne pas pouvoir ne pas — cannot but
  • Polish: nie móc nic poradzić — cannot but
  • Polish: nie móc przestać — cannot but
  • Polish: nie móc się powstrzymać — cannot but
  • Spanish: no poder evitar — cannot but
  • Spanish: no poder dejar de — cannot but
  • Swahili: siwezi lakini — cannot but