help Hear it!

help Definition

help (help)

transitive verb

  1. to make things easier or better for (a person); aid; assist; specif.,
    1. to give (one in need or trouble) something necessary, as relief, succor, money, etc. to help the poor
    2. to do part of the work of; ease or share the labor of to help someone lift a load
    3. to aid in getting (up, down, in, etc. or to, into, out of, etc.) help her into the house
  2. to make it easier for (something) to exist, happen, develop, improve, etc.; specif.,
    1. to make more effective, larger, more intense, etc.; aid the growth of; promote a tax to help the schools
    2. to cause improvement in; remedy; alleviate; relieve a medicine that helps a cold
    1. to keep from; avoid he can't help coughing
    2. to stop, prevent, change, etc. a misfortune that can't be helped
  4. to serve or wait on (a customer, client, etc.)

Etymology: ME helpen < OE helpan, akin to Ger helfen < IE base *elb-, *elp-, to help > early Lith sělbinos, to aid

intransitive verb

  1. to give assistance; be cooperative, useful, or beneficial
  2. to act as a waiter, clerk, servant, etc.

noun

  1. the act of helping or a thing that helps; aid; assistance
  2. relief; cure; remedy
  3. ☆
    1. a helper; esp., a hired helper, as a domestic servant, farmhand, etc.
    2. hired helpers; employees

Etymology: ME < OE < base of the v.; in U.S., sense of “servant,” prob. a euphemism to avoid stigma of “serve”

used to summon assistance, esp. urgently

help Idioms

cannot help but

cannot fail to; be compelled or obliged to

cannot help oneself

to be the victim of circumstances, a habit, etc.

help oneself to

  1. to serve or provide oneself with (food, etc.)
  2. to take without asking or being given; steal

help out

to help in getting or doing something; help

so help me (God)

I swear

help Synonyms

help

n.

  1. Assistance

    advice, cooperation, guidance; see aid 1.

  2. Employees

    aides, representatives, hired help; see assistant, staff 2.

  3. Physical relief

    maintenance, sustenance, nourishment; see relief 4, remedy 2.

help Synonyms

help

v.

  1. To aid

    aid, assist, abet, succor, uphold, advise, encourage, stand by, cooperate, intercede for, patronize, befriend, accommodate, work for, back up, maintain, sustain, prop, benefit, bolster, lend a hand, do a service, see through, do one's part, cheer, give a hand, be of use, come to the aid of, bail out, be of some help, help along, do a favor, promote, endorse, sanction, back, advocate, abet, stimulate, uphold, second, further, work for, stick up for*, take under one's wing*, go to bat for*, side with*, give a lift*, boost*, take in tow*, pitch in*, set to*; see also support 2.

    Antonyms oppose*, rival*, combat. *

  2. To assist in recovery

    attend, nourish, doctor*; see heal 1, nurse, revive 2, treat 3.

  3. To serve at table

    wait on, accommodate, tend to; see serve 4.

  4. To improve

    better, correct, ease; see improve 1.

help is the simplest and strongest of these words meaning to supply another with whatever is necessary to accomplish his or her ends or relieve his or her wants; aid and assist are somewhat more formal and weaker, assist esp. implying a subordinate role in the helper and less need for help she assisted him in his experiments; succor suggests timely help to one in distress to succor a besieged city

cannot help but

be compelled to, be obliged to, cannot fail to, have to; see must.

cannot help oneself

be compelled to, have a need to, be the victim of circumstance, be the victim of habit; see must.

so help me God

as God is my witness, by God, I swear; see oath 1.

help Usage Examples

Object

  • people: The artists also helped the young people to develop their own creative art skills.
  • student: Personal Tutors are there to help students with any problems whether they are academic or social.
  • child: Derby County Coaches help local children On Saturday 18th June football did come home to The Community House!

Converse of object

  • enlist: Your puppy will learn a great deal quicker if you can enlist the help of some willing volunteers.
  • seek: Mental health campaigners fear this may dissuade people with mental health problems from seeking help.
  • need: You can then decide whether something is serious enough to need medical help.
  • appreciate: Our shops are staffed by volunteers and we would really appreciate extra help at this very busy time of year.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • undiscovered: In doing so you benefit from Amazon's prices and you also help support Undiscovered Scotland.

Adjective modifier

  • practical: ACWW offers mutual support, friendship and practical help.
  • extra: The tutors are extremely friendly and prepared to offer extra help and support to anyone in need.
  • financial: Kevin Noble of Spon End Red Brick, said the group had recieved financial help from the city council.
  • live: Live Help is currently available during normal business hours.

Modifies a noun

  • desk: The Help Desk The Help Desk is the first point of contact for most users of the university computing service.

Noun used with modifier

  • cannot: In fact I have two homelands, England and Russia, and I cannot help seeing England and the West through Russian Orthodox eyes.

Infinitive complement

  • reduce: Research states that a shot or two of whiskey each day will help to reduce your risk of heart disease.
  • ensure: Training advice staff Four training events for 30 CAB advisers per event on consumer guarantees will help to ensure a high quality of advice.
  • prevent: This is called anticoagulation and helps to prevent a stroke from occurring.
  • improve: She explains how sports science support can help to improve athletic performance... Q: In simple terms, what is sports science?
  • keep: We hope this helps to keep you informed and in touch with each other.

Present participle complement

  • wonder: I've signed up for an account, as you do, but I can't help wondering what the point is.
help Quotes

When stately ships are twirled and spun Like whipping tops and help there's none And mighty ships ten thousand ton Go down like lumps of lead.

—Hodgson, Ralph

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

—Bible (Old Testament)

The best way to help the poor is not to become one of them.

—Hancock, Lang(ley George)

Nobody can't do nothing never at all for Irelandöyou can't help people against their will; that's what it comes toölet it go, let it go.

—Freeman, Edward Augustus

Is not a Patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern ona manstruggling for life inthewater, and,whenhehas reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the L, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The L is thy keeper: the L is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moonby night.The L shall preservetheefromallevil: he shall preserve thy soul. The L shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

—Bible (Old Testament)

   We savaged them, though they had never hurt us, and we cannot find it in our hearts, our honor, to give them helpöbecause the government of Vietnam is Communist. And perhaps because they won.

—Gellhorn, Martha Ellis

I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish, without the help and support of the woman I love.

—Edward VIII

Consumer: A person who is capable of choosing a president but incapable of choosing a bicycle without help from a government agency.

—Stein, Herbert

If a chap seems bent on cheatin' himself, I like to be neighbourly and help him to do it.

—Hales, Stephen

'O! help me heaven,'she prayed,'to be decorative and to do right!'

—Firbank, (ArthurAnnesley) Ronald

England is a great and powerful nation, foremost in human progress, enemy to despotism, the only safe refuge for the exile, friend of the oppressed. If ever England should be so circumstanced as to require the help of anyally, cursed be the Italian who would not step forward with me in her defence.

—Garibaldi, Giuseppe

Why art thou cast down,O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

—Bible (Old Testament)

   You are ordered abroad as a soldier of the King to help our French comrades against the invasion of a common enemy† In this new experience you may find temptations both in wine and women.You must entirely resist both temptations, and while treating all women with perfect courtesy, you should avoid any intimacy.Do your duty bravely. Fear God. Honour the King.

—Herbert, 1st Earl

I do not believe in Belief† Lord I disbelieveöhelp thou my unbelief.

—Forster, E(dward) M(organ)

Speak now, and I will answer; How shall I help you, say; Ere to the wind's twelve quarters I take my endless way. 415

—Housman, A(lfred) E(dward)

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends, Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends.

—Paul

The dead don't die. They look on and help.

—Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert)

And theL Godsaid,It isnot good thatthemanshould be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Nature's stern discipline enjoins mutual help at least as often as warfare. The fittest mayalso be the gentlest.

—Dobzhansky,Theodosius G

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

—Book of Common Prayer

Well, there's no help for it. Ageing seems to be the only available way to live a long time.

—Auber, Daniel-Fran c° ois-Esprit

   Question not, but live and labour Till yon goal be won, Helping every feeble neighbour, Seeking help from none; Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone: in another's trouble, in your own.

—Gordon, Adam Lindsay

   Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part; Nay, I have done, you get no more of me, And I am glad, yea glad with all my heart That thus so cleanly I myself can free; Shake hands forever, cancel all our vows, And when we meet at any time again, Be it not seen in either of our brows That we one jot of former love retain.

—Drayton, Michael

O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man: for there is no help in them.

—Book of Common Prayer

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

—Bible (Old Testament)

It is because we have had such great writers in the past that a writer is driven out far past where he can go, out to where no one can help him.

—Hemingway, Ernest Millar

We are not masters of our own affections; our inclinations dailyalter: now we love pleasure, and anon we shall dote on business. Human frailty will have it so, and who can help it?

—Etherege, Sir George

I must confess I am a fop in my heart; ill customs influence my very senses, and I have been so used to affectation that without the help of the air of the court what is natural cannot touch me.

—Etherege, Sir George