🤝 To assist 🆘 Assistance 🙈 Cannot stop 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A support 🧹 A worker

to help

∞ 3.5

To be unable to stop yourself from doing something

verb
/hɛlp/

: no poder evitar

Because he can't help it.
can't help noticing
can't help feeling
can't help looking

I mean, just can't help myself, you know?

Examples

I can't help you if you don't pick up the phone.

Fall (2022)
I mean, you know, I mean, sometimes you just can't help it.
And that person will not be able to help themselves but smile back.
And that person will not be able to help themselves but smile back.
I mean, just can't help myself, you know?

Carli Bybel
But that doesn't help you, it makes it worse.
And I don't think it is helping at all.
Can't help but feel that he could still be out there.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
Lord, help me.

Jack Be Nimble (2022)
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but laugh at the funny movie.

Synonyms

to couldn't help but

vsto help

100 3.7

Be unable to stop yourself from doing something

is the verb pattern always used with negative to show inability

to couldn't resist

vsto help

56 3.7

Not be able to stop yourself from doing something because you really want it

focuses on inability generally not only caused by desire

to help oneself

vsto help

24 5.9

Be unable to stop yourself from doing something you want to avoid

is always negative and applies to inability generally not only to undesirable acts

Antonyms

to avoid

∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

to resist

311 2.2

Act against authority, rules or change

Idioms

to can't help but groan

Informal

7.2

To feel so annoyed or frustrated that you make a soft unhappy sound

to couldn't help but crow

Informal

9.3

Be unable to stop yourself from bragging about a success

to couldn't help but drool

Informal

7.4

Want food so much that you cannot stop your mouth from filling with saliva

to couldn't help but gawk

Informal

8.2

To be unable to stop yourself from staring in a rude or amazed way

to help a lame dog over a stile

Informal

9.9

To do something kind for a person in trouble

Phrasal Verbs

to help someone with

499 1.0

To do part of a task for someone who has trouble doing it

to help out

Informal

486 1.0

To do something for someone who cannot do it alone

to gonna help

Informal

440 7.7

To say you will help someone soon

to help with

438 1.0

To give someone support to do a task

to help someone out

Informal

182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

to couldn't help but

100 3.7

Be unable to stop yourself from doing something

to ask for help

98 1.0

To tell someone you need support with a task or problem

to help oneself

72 3.4

Take food or drink for yourself without asking

to call for help

59 1.6

To ask loudly for help in an emergency

to seek help

30 2.0

Ask someone for support when you face a problem

to help oneself

24 5.9

Be unable to stop yourself from doing something you want to avoid

to help along

21 2.9

Make someone or something move forward faster

to cry out for help

7 2.7

To shout loudly when you need help right away

to shout for help

1 1.0

Call out loudly to ask someone to come to you when you are in danger

to whistle for help

1 3.0

Make a loud high sound by blowing through your lips to call for help

Compounds

self-help

44 3.6

To try to improve your life alone using books or courses

hired help

7 3.0

People who are paid to do house or farm work

help desk

Specialized

3 3.0

A service that gives information and technical help to computer users

domestic help

1 2.6

A person paid to clean and cook in a home

kitchen help

1 2.5

A person who helps in a restaurant kitchen with preparing food and cleaning

help in kind

3.6

Help given as goods or services instead of money

help vampire

Offensive

9.9

A person who always asks others for help but never tries to solve problems alone or help them back

help with digestion

3.0

Something that makes food break down in your stomach

home help

3.4

A person who helps older or disabled people with housework and shopping at home

signal for help

3.4

A sign or action that shows you need help in an emergency, like waving arms

Surface Forms

help infinitive

helped past

helped past participle

helping present participle

helps third person singular

Etymology

Help in the phrase 'can't help' can be thought of as meaning 'stop' or 'prevent', so a helpful way to remember it is that 'can't help' means you cannot 'stop yourself' from doing something.