cannot but

phrase

variants or cannot help but or less commonly cannot help
: to be unable to do otherwise than
we cannot but wonder why
I cannot help feeling sorry for them.

Cite this Entry

“Cannot but.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannot%20but. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!