Definitions
01to assist
A1 · Beginner
v. to do something for someone so that they can do a task more easily.
v. to provide assistance or aid to a person or entity in order to facilitate the completion of a task.
日本語:手伝う※
“Could you help me carry these heavy bags to the car?”
“The local community centre helps residents find employment by offering free workshops on CV writing and interview techniques.”
Usage
Can be followed by an object and either the bare infinitive or the 'to' infinitive.
Pitfall
I 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.
02to improve a situation
A2 · Elementary
v. to make a situation better or easier to deal with.
v. to contribute to the improvement or alleviation of a condition or problem.
日本語:助ける※
“Taking a short walk every day really helps with my back pain.”
“The new government subsidies are designed to help the struggling agricultural sector recover from the recent drought.”
Antonyms
03to refrain from
B1 · Intermediate
v. to stop yourself from doing something, usually used with 'can't'.
v. to prevent or refrain from an action; almost exclusively used in negative constructions with 'can' or 'could'.
“I couldn't help laughing when the cat fell off the sofa.”
“Despite the gravity of the situation, she could not help feeling a slight sense of relief that the secret was finally out.”
Usage
Commonly used in the pattern 'can't help doing something'.
04assistance
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the act of helping someone, or the person who helps.
n. the action of providing aid; also used metonymically to refer to the person or thing providing that aid.
“I really appreciate all the help you gave me during the move.”
“The project was completed ahead of schedule thanks to the extra help provided by the temporary staff members.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05software documentation
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Computing
n. information in a computer program that explains how to use it.
n. on-screen documentation or a support system within a software application designed to assist the user.
“If you don't know how to save the file, check the help menu.”
“The application's help files are searchable by keyword, making it easy to find solutions for specific technical errors.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “help” in context.
Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Grammar
The word in film
The Help · 2011 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- Tate Taylor
- Starring:
- Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek
Set in 1960s Mississippi, this Tate Taylor drama focuses on the lives of African American maids working for white families. The title uses this noun to describe the domestic workers who provide essential assistance in their employers' homes.
Domain
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/help
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0