Word
auxiliary
Phoneticsaux·il·iary
US/ɑɡˈzɪɫiɛɹi/
UK/ɔːksˈɪliəɹi/
Definitions
01providing extra help
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. giving extra help or support to a main person, group, or system.
adj. providing supplementary or additional help and support to a primary entity.
Español:auxiliar
“The hospital hired auxiliary staff to help during the busy winter season.”
“The main engine failed, but the auxiliary power unit kicked in immediately to keep the ship's navigation systems running.”
Synonyms
02held in reserve
C1 · Advanced Technical
adj. kept ready to use if the main thing fails or if there is an emergency.
adj. functioning as a reserve or backup intended for use in exceptional circumstances.
“The building has an auxiliary water tank in case the city supply stops.”
“Engineers designed an auxiliary cooling system to prevent a meltdown if the primary pumps were compromised.”
03a helper or backup
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a person or thing that provides extra help, especially in the military or a large organization.
n. an individual or group that acts in a supportive or subsidiary capacity, often within a military or medical hierarchy.
“She volunteered as a nurse's auxiliary at the local clinic.”
“The army relied heavily on local auxiliaries to navigate the difficult mountain terrain during the campaign.”
04grammar
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Technical
n. a helping verb like 'be', 'do', or 'have' that is used with another verb.
n. a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs.
“In the sentence 'I am eating', the word 'am' is an auxiliary.”
“The student struggled to distinguish between the primary auxiliary and the main lexical verb in complex passive constructions.”
Usage
Common auxiliaries in English include 'be', 'do', and 'have', as well as modal verbs like 'can' and 'must'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Critics of the last proposal have compared the idea to the auxiliary police structures set up by the Nazis, which led to the creation of a police state.” “Just when things are looking dire for John and Sarah, the T-800 reboots on auxiliary power and shoots the T-1000 with a grenade launcher.” Etymology
From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxiliāris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from augēre (“to increase”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/auxiliary
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0