# helper

/ˈhɛɫpɝ/ (US) · /hˈɛlpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/helper
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. an assistant

noun · CEFR A2

a person who helps someone else with a job or a task.

For teachers: a person who provides assistance or support to another in performing a task.

- The teacher asked for a helper to hand out the books to the class.
- The lead carpenter hired a temporary helper to assist with the heavy lifting during the framing phase of the construction project.

### 2. domestic worker

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Dialect

a person who is paid to do cleaning, cooking, and housework in a family home.

For teachers: a domestic employee engaged to perform household duties such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare.

- Many families in the city employ a helper to look after the children while the parents are at work.
- The agency specialises in placing experienced domestic helpers with families who require full-time live-in assistance.

Teaching tip: This term is the standard, respectful way to refer to domestic staff in Hong Kong, Singapore, and parts of the Philippines.

### 3. auxiliary engine

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English

an extra engine used to help a train climb a steep hill.

For teachers: an auxiliary locomotive used to provide additional power to a train, typically for ascending steep gradients.

- The train stopped at the base of the mountain to attach a helper for the steep climb.
- The railway company maintained a fleet of helper engines at the mountain pass to assist heavy freight trains during the winter months.

### 4. drug slang

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a slang word for a pill that gives you energy, like an amphetamine.

For teachers: a slang term for a stimulant pill, specifically amphetamines.

- He was caught with a pocket full of helpers at the party.
- The investigation revealed a local network involved in the distribution of various stimulants, known on the street as helpers.

Teaching tip: This is a very niche slang term; learners are unlikely to encounter it outside of specific crime fiction or historical contexts.

## Examples

- The teacher asked for a helper to hand out the books.
- She hired a local helper to assist with the gardening and heavy lifting during the summer months.
- While the lead architect designed the structure, several junior helpers were responsible for the meticulous task of drafting the technical blueprints.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.