help
v. · n.-
1 to assist (v.) A1 Beginnerto do something for someone so that they can do a task more easily.
to provide assistance or aid to a person or entity in order to facilitate the completion of a task.
ExampleCould you help me carry these heavy bags to the car?
ExampleThe local community centre helps residents find employment by offering free workshops on CV writing and interview techniques.
UsageCan be followed by an object and either the bare infinitive or the 'to' infinitive.
PitfallI helped him to doing his homework.I helped him do his homework.After 'help', use the base form of the verb (with or without 'to'), never the '-ing' form.
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2 to improve a situation (v.) A2 Elementaryto make a situation better or easier to deal with.
to contribute to the improvement or alleviation of a condition or problem.
ExampleTaking a short walk every day really helps with my back pain.
ExampleThe new government subsidies are designed to help the struggling agricultural sector recover from the recent drought.
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3 to refrain from (v.) B1 Intermediateto stop yourself from doing something, usually used with 'can't'.
to prevent or refrain from an action; almost exclusively used in negative constructions with 'can' or 'could'.
ExampleI couldn't help laughing when the cat fell off the sofa.
ExampleDespite the gravity of the situation, she could not help feeling a slight sense of relief that the secret was finally out.
UsageCommonly used in the pattern 'can't help doing something'.
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4 assistance (n.) A1 Beginnerthe act of helping someone, or the person who helps.
the action of providing aid; also used metonymically to refer to the person or thing providing that aid.
ExampleI really appreciate all the help you gave me during the move.
ExampleThe project was completed ahead of schedule thanks to the extra help provided by the temporary staff members.
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5 software documentation (n.) A2 Elementary Computinginformation in a computer program that explains how to use it.
on-screen documentation or a support system within a software application designed to assist the user.
ExampleIf you don't know how to save the file, check the help menu.
ExampleThe application's help files are searchable by keyword, making it easy to find solutions for specific technical errors.
From Middle English help, from Old English help (“help, aid, assistance, relief”), from Proto-Germanic helpō (“help”), hilpiz, hulpiz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelb-, *ḱelp- (“to help”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hälpe (“help”), West Frisian help (“help”), Cimbrian hölfe (“help”), Dutch hulp (“help”), German Hilfe (“help, aid, assistance”), Luxembourgish Hëllef (“help”), Mòcheno hilf (“help”), Vilamovian hyłf (“help”), Yiddish הילף (hilf, “help”), Danish hjælp (“help”), Faroese, Icelandic hjálp (“help”), Norwegian Bokmål hjelp (“help”), Norwegian Nynorsk hjelp, hjølp (“help”), Swedish hjälp (“help”).
From Middle English helpen, from Old English helpan (“to help, aid, assist, benefit, relieve, cure”), from Proto-West Germanic helpan, Proto-Germanic helpaną (“to help”), from Proto-Indo-European ḱelb-, ḱelp- (“to help”). Cognate with North Frisian halep, heelpe, help (“to help”), Saterland Frisian hälpe (“to help”), West Frisian helpe (“to help”), Cimbrian hölfan (“to help”), Dutch helpen (“to help”), German helfen (“to help”), Low German helpen, hölpen, hülpen (“to help”), Luxembourgish hëllefen (“to help”), Yiddish העלפֿן (helfn, “to help”), Danish hjælpe (“to help”), Faroese, Icelandic hjálpa (“to help”), Norwegian Bokmål hjelpe (“to help”), Norwegian Nynorsk hjelpa, hjelpe (“to help”), Swedish hjälpa (“to help”), Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌻𐍀𐌰𐌽 (hilpan, “to help”), Lithuanian šelpti (“to help, support”).