# assist

/əˈsɪst/ (US) · /ɐsˈɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/assist
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to help

verb · CEFR B1 · Formal

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

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

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

### 2. medical support

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

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

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

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

### 3. sports pass

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- She assisted the winning goal with a perfect pass across the field.
- The midfielder assisted three goals in a single half, demonstrating exceptional vision and passing accuracy.

### 4. a helpful act

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an act of helping someone.

For teachers: the act of providing help or a specific instance of assistance.

- I just need a little assist to move this heavy table into the corner.
- The driver gave the stranded motorist an assist by jump-starting her car in the freezing rain.

### 5. sports contribution

noun · CEFR B1

a pass or play that allows a teammate to score.

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

- The striker finished the season with ten goals and fifteen assists.
- The point guard's high number of assists reflects his unselfish style of play and his ability to create scoring opportunities for others.

## Examples

- The nurse gave me an assist to help me out of bed.
- The star player finished the game with two goals and a crucial assist in the final minute.
- While the surgeon performed the primary procedure, the resident provided a vital assist by managing the secondary instruments throughout the operation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.