assist
[verb]
Synonyms: help, abet, aid, cooperate, lend a helping hand, serve, support

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Antonyms: hamper, impede
Contrasted words: clog, fetter, trammel, forestall, prevent, burden, encumber, handicap, tax, weigh down
Related Words: accompany, attend, escort, concur, cooperate

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English Thesaurus: help, assistance, aid, support, cooperation, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. as‧sist¹ S3 W3 AC /əˈsɪst/ verb formal
[Word Family: noun: assistance, assistant; verb: assist]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: assister 'to be present, help', from Latin assistere, from ad- 'to' + sistere 'to cause to stand']

1. [intransitive and transitive] to help someone to do something
assist (somebody) with/in something
You will be employed to assist in the development of new equipment.
► Do not say ‘assist someone to do something’. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something: The teacher assists the children with their tasks. | someone who can assist them in planning their careers

2. [transitive] to make it easier for someone to do something:
They had no maps to assist them.

REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say help rather than assist:
We’ll help in any way we can.
They have special software to help them process invoices.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. assist² noun [countable]
an action that helps another player on your sports team to make a point

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

assist
verb
ADV. greatly, materially We have been greatly assisted by individuals and organizations.
actively
VERB + ASSIST be designed to measures designed to assist people with disabilities
PREP. in He had to assist her in opening the gates.
with She offered to assist with the marketing of the product.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

assist
verb
1.
BAD: All members are required to assist to the meeting.
GOOD: All members are required to attend the meeting.
BAD: The school where I am going to assist is in Cambridge.
GOOD: The school that I am going to attend is in Cambridge.

Usage Note:
assist = (formal) help: 'Should you have difficulty in finding a book, the library staff will be pleased to assist you.'
See also ATTEND 1 (attend)

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2.
BAD: One of the prison guards assisted them to escape.
GOOD: One of the prison guards assisted them in their escape.
GOOD: One of the prison guards assisted them in escaping.

Usage Note:
assist (sb) in/with sth : 'A Swiss rescue team is being flown in to assist in the search for survivors.' 'I've been asked to assist with the weddingarrangements.'
assist (sb) in doing sth ( NOT to do ): 'Our main job is to assist foreign governments in developing their economies.'

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3.
BAD: Ask Susie to assist you.
GOOD: Ask Susie to help you.

Usage Note:
See note at ASSIST 1 (assist).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something:
Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.
The book would never have been finished without his help.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
aid help. Aid is more formal than help, and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation:
Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.
The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
We could not have won the case without your support.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.
assist formal to help someone:
He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.
Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them something:
Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.
give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting things:
Can you give me a hand moving these boxes?
Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.
lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something:
Scott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.
I went over to see if I could lend a hand.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

help to make it easier for someone to do something, by doing something for them or giving them something they need:
Is there anything I can do to help?
Dad, I can’t do my homework. Will you help me?
assist formal to help someone:
He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.
Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
aid formal to help someone to do something – used especially when saying that something helps your body to do something:
Coffee can aid concentration.
Fennel aids the digestion.
There are plenty of materials to aid the teacher.
help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them something:
Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.
give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting things:
Can you give me a hand moving these boxes?
Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.
lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something:
Scott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.
I went over to see if I could lend a hand.
give somebody help
Do you want me to give you some help?
ask (somebody) for help
He asked for help with the cleaning.
need help
Some of the older patients need help with walking.
get/receive help
She gets no help from her husband.
offer (your) help
The taxi driver offered his help and we accepted.
provide help
The goverment should do more to provide help for people who are looking for work.
appeal for help (=publicly ask for help)
The police are appealing for help to track down the killer.
enlist sb’s help (=persuade someone to help you)
She enlisted the help of a private investigator to find her missing son.
find help
To get it finished by tomorrow, we’ll need to find help from somewhere.
financial help
We received a lot of financial help from my family.
professional help
You need to seek some professional help.
medical help
She needs urgent medical help.
legal help
You can find free legal help for your problem by logging onto our website.
technical help
I might need some technical help understanding the instructions.
practical help
The organization offers practical help with finding accommodation.
expert help
If the issues are complex, expert help can be sought from the adoption agency.
get/receive help from somebody
You will be able to get confidential help from your doctor.
give (somebody) help
The fund was set up to give financial help to war veterans.
offer help
We offer free help for people with debts.
seek help (=ask for help)
He decided to seek medical help for his drink problem.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
We could not have won the case without your support.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲