assist

1 of 2

verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

assisted; assisting; assists

transitive verb

: to give usually supplementary support or aid to

She 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

assist

2 of 2

noun

1

US : an act or action that helps someone : an act of assistance

He wrote the story with an assist from a friend. [=with the help of a friend]

2

: the action (such as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout (as in baseball) or score a goal (as in basketball or hockey)

also : official credit given for such an action

was credited with 5 assists in the first half

3

: a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance

Synonyms

Verb

• abet
• aid
• back
• backstop
• help
• prop (up)
• support

Noun

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

Examples of assist in a Sentence

Verb

The device assists those who can't climb stairs.

The President was assisted by his advisers.

She assisted the boy with his homework.

Another doctor assisted him with the operation.

Another doctor assisted with the operation.

Federal agents are assisting with the investigation.

She assisted in making the decision.

The cream assists in the prevention of skin cancer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Dallas Police Department is assisting Kaufman County in locating Dorcas Young and her son Connor Young. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Thompson has three points, all assists, in six games with the Sharks this year as he’s averaged 16:38 in ice time. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

As well as scoring, Clark also set the all-time WNBA league record for assists in a single season and the most dimes in a single game. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

By the numbers: Steph Curry just missed out on a triple double scoring 17 points, dishing out 10 assists and securing nine rebounds. —Ross Terrell, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English assisten "to help, aid, give aid (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French assister (Middle French also "to be present near, stand near" [with a "to"]), borrowed from Latin assistō, assistere "to take up a position near, stand by, stand by as a supporter or advocate," from ad- ad- (assimilated to as-) + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt," going back to Indo-European *sti-sth₂-e-, reduplicated present formation from the base *steh₂- "set up (in a place), take a position," whence also Old Irish ˑsissedar (in arˑsissedar "[s/he] stays, stands fast"), Greek hístēmi, histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístamai, hístasthai "to take up a position, come and stand," Sanskrit tíṣṭhati "(s/he) takes a position, stands," Avestan hištaṇti "(they) take a position" — more at stand entry 1

Noun

derivative of assist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assist

• ventricular assist device
• with an assist from

Kids Definition

assist

1 of 2 verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

: to give support or aid : help

assist

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of assisting

2

: the action of a player who by passing a ball or puck makes it possible for a teammate to make a putout or score a goal

Medical Definition

assist

1 of 2 transitive verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

: to give usually supplementary support or aid to

assist the patient up the stairs

assist respiration mechanically

intransitive verb

: to give support or aid

assist

2 of 2 noun

: an act or procedure that provides assistance

external pressure circulatory assist employs compression of the lower extremities

—P. W. Wright