Word
Definitions
01a helper
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a person who helps someone else do their job or a specific task.
n. a person who assists another in a subordinate or auxiliary capacity.
“The professor asked her research assistant to help organize the data.”
“The executive assistant manages the CEO's complex schedule and ensures all briefing documents are prepared before the morning meetings.”
Usage
Often used with a job title, such as 'teaching assistant' or 'personal assistant'.
02a shop worker
A2 · Elementary Countable noun British English
n. a person who works in a shop and helps customers.
n. a person employed to serve customers in a retail environment.
“I asked the shop assistant if they had the shirt in a larger size.”
“The sales assistant was highly commended for providing exceptional service to several demanding customers during the holiday rush.”
Teaching tip
In American English, 'sales clerk' or 'sales associate' is more common than 'shop assistant'.
Synonyms
03software tool
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing
n. a computer program or app that helps you do something.
n. a software feature or standalone program designed to guide a user through a task or automate simple functions.
“You can use the setup assistant to connect your new phone to the internet.”
“The digital assistant uses voice recognition to help users manage their daily tasks and control smart home devices.”
04subordinate role
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. used to describe a person who is a helper or has a lower rank.
adj. acting in a subordinate or auxiliary capacity; typically used in job titles.
“He was promoted to assistant manager after working there for two years.”
“The assistant director took over the production while the lead director was away on medical leave.”
Usage
Almost always used as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “assistant” in context.
Etymology
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 assistōbor. Middle French assister Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin -āns Old French -ant Middle French -ant Middle French assistantbor. Middle English assistent English assistant From Middle English assistent, from Middle French assistant, from assister. By surface analysis, assist + -ant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/assistant
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0