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

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

²assist

noun

Definition of ASSIST

1

: an act of assistance : aid

2

: the action (as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout or score a goal; also : official credit given for such an action

3

: a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance

Examples of ASSIST

1. He had 3 goals and 2 assists in the hockey game.
2. <with an assist from his dad, the youngster built a doghouse any canine would be proud to call home>

First Known Use of ASSIST

1597

Related to ASSIST

Synonyms

abetment, aid, help, assistance, backing, boost, hand, helping hand, leg up, lift, support

Antonyms

hindrance

Related Words

advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance; benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship; advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring; attendance, attention, hand-holding, service; beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy; assuagement, palliation, relief, succor

Near Antonyms

constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint; deterrence, discouragement