What does "assist" mean?

1. (to help) to help someone, especially by doing part of their work or giving them information. 2. (medical support) to use a machine or medical method to help a part of the body work correctly. 3. (sports pass) to make a pass that helps a teammate score a goal or point. 4. (a helpful act) an act of helping someone. 5. (sports contribution) a pass or play that allows a teammate to score.

How do you use "assist"?

Often takes the preposition 'with' for the task or 'in' followed by a gerund. Commonly seen in the passive form 'assisted'.

Is it correct to say "He assisted to me with my bags."?

No — say "He assisted me with my bags.". The verb 'assist' is transitive and takes a direct object; do not use 'to' before the person being helped.

assist

v. · n.

US //əˈsɪst// UK //ɐsˈɪst// as·sist

1 to help (v.)
B1 Intermediate Formal

to help someone, especially by doing part of their work or giving them information.

to provide help or support to someone in the performance of a task. Often used in formal or professional contexts.

Example

A local guide will assist you with your luggage when you arrive at the hotel.

Example

The research department was asked to assist the legal team in preparing the final report for the board of directors.

Usage

Often takes the preposition 'with' for the task or 'in' followed by a gerund.
- hinder
- obstruct
Pitfall

He assisted to me with my bags.

He assisted me with my bags.

The verb 'assist' is transitive and takes a direct object; do not use 'to' before the person being helped.
2 medical support (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

to use a machine or medical method to help a part of the body work correctly.

to provide mechanical or technical aid to a bodily function or medical process.

Example

The patient needed a machine to assist his breathing during the night.

Example

Modern ventilators are designed to assist natural respiration while the patient's lungs recover from the infection.

Usage

Commonly seen in the passive form 'assisted'.
- support
- augment

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3 sports pass (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

to make a pass that helps a teammate score a goal or point.

to perform an action, typically a pass, that directly leads to a teammate scoring a goal or point.

Example

She assisted the winning goal with a perfect pass across the field.

Example

The midfielder assisted three goals in a single half, demonstrating exceptional vision and passing accuracy.
- set up
4 a helpful act (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

an act of helping someone.

the act of providing help or a specific instance of assistance.

Example

I just need a little assist to move this heavy table into the corner.

Example

The driver gave the stranded motorist an assist by jump-starting her car in the freezing rain.
5 sports contribution (n.)
B1 Intermediate Sport

a pass or play that allows a teammate to score.

a statistic credited to a player whose action leads directly to a goal or basket by a teammate.

Example

The striker finished the season with ten goals and fifteen assists.

Example

The point guard's high number of assists reflects his unselfish style of play and his ability to create scoring opportunities for others.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti Proto-Italic *sistō Latin sistō Latin assistō Old French assisterbor. Middle English assisten English assist From Middle English assisten, from Old French assister (“to assist, to attend”), from Latin assistō (“stand at, bestand”, verb).