assist

¹as·sist

verb \ə-ˈsist\

Definition of ASSIST

transitive verb

: to give usually supplementary support or aid to <assisted the boy with his lessons>

intransitive verb

1

: to give support or aid <assisted at the stove> <another surgeon assisted on the operation>

2

: to be present as a spectator <the ideal figures assisting at Italian holy scenes — Mary McCarthy>

Examples of ASSIST

1. The device assists those who can't climb stairs.
2. The President was assisted by his advisers.
3. She assisted the boy with his homework.
4. Another doctor assisted him with the operation.
5. Another doctor assisted with the operation.
6. Federal agents are assisting with the investigation.
7. She assisted in making the decision.
8. The cream assists in the prevention of skin cancer.

Origin of ASSIST

Middle French or Latin; Middle French assister to help, stand by, from Latin assistere, from ad- + sistere to cause to stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ASSIST

Synonyms: abet, aid, help, back, backstop, prop (up), support

Antonyms: hinder

Related Words: advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve

Near Antonyms: balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injure

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Rhymes with ASSIST

A-list, backlist, blacklist, B-list, checklist, consist, dean's list, delist, desist, encyst, enlist, entwist, exist, handlist, hit list, insist, life list, mailed fist, persist, playlist, protist, Rehnquist, resist, short list, short-list, subsist, untwist, wait-list, white list, wish list