assistant
- 01 A2 Elementary
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.
Simple“The professor asked her research assistant to help organize the data.”
In context“The executive assistant manages the CEO's complex schedule and ensures all briefing documents are prepared before the morning meetings.”
UsageOften used with a job title, such as 'teaching assistant' or 'personal assistant'.
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a person who works in a shop and helps customers.
n.a person employed to serve customers in a retail environment.
Simple“I asked the shop assistant if they had the shirt in a larger size.”
In context“The sales assistant was highly commended for providing exceptional service to several demanding customers during the holiday rush.”
Teacher's tipIn American English, 'sales clerk' or 'sales associate' is more common than 'shop assistant'.
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“You can use the setup assistant to connect your new phone to the internet.”
In context“The digital assistant uses voice recognition to help users manage their daily tasks and control smart home devices.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“He was promoted to assistant manager after working there for two years.”
In context“The assistant director took over the production while the lead director was away on medical leave.”
UsageAlmost always used as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Usage assistant professor · assistant editor · assistant manager
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.