Definify.com

Definition 2024

(idiomatic) Not be able to avoid a situation, or stop something from happening.
I can't help crying whenever I see Romeo and Juliet.

not be able to avoid something

Italian: non poter fare a meno di, non potere fare a meno di, non poterci fare niente
Japanese: ...しないではいられない ‎(...shinaide-wa irarenai)
Korean: ...할 리가 없다 ‎(...hal riga eopda)
Russian: не мочь не ‎(ne močʹ ne)
Spanish: no poder evitar de, no poder dejar de

Only negative forms of can help have this meaning of cannot avoid.
No one can help laughing when he comes on stage.
Can help can have the meaning of be able to avoid only when the context has already established the use of can't help.
- A: I can't help being scared.
- B: Of course you can help it.
This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund or, with but, the bare infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs.

I can't help agreeing with you.

I can't help but agree with you.