# helping

/ˈhɛɫpɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈɛlpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/helping
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a portion of food

noun · CEFR B1

a single portion of food served to one person at a meal.

For teachers: a portion of food served to or taken by one person. Countable in this sense.

- He was so hungry that he asked for a second helping of pasta.
- The host insisted on giving everyone a generous helping of the traditional dessert, despite several guests claiming they were already full.

### 2. giving assistance

verb · CEFR A1

the act of giving aid, support, or assistance to someone.

For teachers: the present participle of 'help', describing the act of providing assistance or relief.

- Helping others is a great way to feel more connected to your community.
- By helping the local charity with their fundraising efforts, the students gained valuable experience in project management and public relations.

## Examples

- She gave herself a large helping of mashed potatoes.
- The children were so hungry after swimming that they each asked for a second helping of the pasta.
- The host insisted that everyone take a generous helping of the traditional dessert, despite the fact that the main course had already been quite substantial.

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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.