help
help Lexical Profile
help Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The action of assisting someone to do or achieve something; aid or support provided in a time of need.
"Thank you for your generous help with organizing the charity event."
A person or thing that is a source of useful assistance or relief.
"The new research assistant has been a tremendous help to the entire laboratory team."
Workers hired to perform domestic duties, maintenance, or other labor in a household or institution.
"The estate owners hired extra seasonal help to prepare the grounds for the summer festival."
• verb
To make it easier or possible for someone to do something by offering one's services, resources, or support.
"She offered to help her neighbor carry the heavy groceries upstairs."
To improve a situation or alleviate a symptom, problem, or pain.
"Drinking warm herbal tea should help your sore throat."
To refrain from or avoid an action or feeling (typically used in negative constructions with 'can' or 'could').
"He could not help laughing when the puppy chased its own tail."
To serve oneself or someone else with food or drink (usually used reflexively).
"Please help yourself to fresh fruit and coffee from the buffet table."
• interjection
An urgent cry or exclamation used to summon immediate assistance in a moment of danger or distress.
"Help! Someone has fallen into the freezing river!"
Word Nuance & Usage
When followed by another verb, 'help' can take either a bare infinitive ('help me carry this') or a full to-infinitive ('help me to carry this'); the bare infinitive is more common in everyday speech.
• Rhymes for help
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'helpan' (to aid, support, or succor), derived from Proto-Germanic '*helpaną', with cognates including German 'helfen' and Old Norse 'hjalpa'.