aided; aiding; aids
: to provide with what is useful or necessary in achieving an end
aid a cause
aid a friend
: to give assistance
research that aided in the discovery of a new drug
aider
noun
1
a
: the act of helping someone
climbers in need of aid
b
: help given : assistance
providing aid and comfort
specifically
: tangible means of assistance (such as money or supplies)
government aid
2
a
chiefly US
: aide
worked as a teacher's aid
b
: something by which assistance is given : an assisting device
an aid to understanding
a visual aid
see hearing aid
3
: a subsidy granted to the king by the English parliament until the 18th century for an extraordinary purpose
4
: a tribute paid by a vassal to his lord
1
Agency for International Development
2
artificial insemination by donor
Synonyms
Examples of aid in a Sentence
Verb
They gave money in order to aid the cause.
She aided them in their efforts.
He jumped into the water to aid the drowning child.
a home run that was aided by the wind
She aided the government in the attempt to fight illiteracy.
Noun
The project was completed with the aid of several students.
The work was done with the aid of a computer.
The government has given millions of dollars in economic aid to these nations.
She applied for financial aid in order to go to college.
The diagram is provided as an aid to understanding.
The computer is an aid to keeping costs down.
He teaches art with visual aids.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alberto Nardelli, Fortune Asia, 24 Apr. 2024
Even an increase of a few percentage points could aid in a global energy transition that’s aiming to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Seating on either side of a circular center platform, skirted by VIP tables, lends the show an immersive feel, aided by Isabella Byrd’s sharp, captivating lighting.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
More EVs equals fewer carbon emissions, and lowering prices is one way to aid this essential transition.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Officials with Home Depot also aided the Sheriff’s Office in the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
The house was then demolished to aid community healing, according to University President Scott Green.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Peña, aided by his white WWII veteran buddy Frank Mitchell (Dennis Quaid), steps in to gain them admission to the country club.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Being so close to the finish line of a disappointing season, and hours from calling it a coaching career following two decades in the NBA, could easily aid in a final-day-of-school vibe around the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
The Southern Command, which is expected to fly more humanitarian aid into the country, is hoping to show that flights can once resume safely.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
But more than half of House Republicans rejected Ukraine aid.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024
That may be unsurprising after more than six months in captivity in Gaza, where Israel’s assault after the Oct. 7 attack has killed more than 34,000 people, according to local health officials, and aid groups warn a famine may be imminent.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
The 12-year-old boy speaks with an NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, about how he was shot by Israeli forces while trying to get food aid.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
What's in the foreign aid bill The package includes $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine; $26.4 billion to support Israel, along with humanitarian aid for Gaza; and $8.1 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024
The bills will result in $60 billion in support for Ukraine, along with another $17 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and elsewhere and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific.
—Jenny Porter Tilley, The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2024
Second, Russia may have waited until Ukraine’s power plants were less protected by air defenses, an increasingly scarce resource after two years of war, and with aid from the United States stalled for months by Congress.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Verb
All these issues, along with Europe’s calls for China to stop aiding Russia, are likely to be high on the agenda when Xi travels to Europe in early May.
—Alberto Nardelli, Fortune Asia, 24 Apr. 2024
Even an increase of a few percentage points could aid in a global energy transition that’s aiming to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Seating on either side of a circular center platform, skirted by VIP tables, lends the show an immersive feel, aided by Isabella Byrd’s sharp, captivating lighting.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
More EVs equals fewer carbon emissions, and lowering prices is one way to aid this essential transition.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
Officials with Home Depot also aided the Sheriff’s Office in the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
The house was then demolished to aid community healing, according to University President Scott Green.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Peña, aided by his white WWII veteran buddy Frank Mitchell (Dennis Quaid), steps in to gain them admission to the country club.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Being so close to the finish line of a disappointing season, and hours from calling it a coaching career following two decades in the NBA, could easily aid in a final-day-of-school vibe around the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Smaller ships will ferry the aid to a pier on Gaza’s shore for delivery inland.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
The Southern Command, which is expected to fly more humanitarian aid into the country, is hoping to show that flights can once resume safely.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
But more than half of House Republicans rejected Ukraine aid.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024
That may be unsurprising after more than six months in captivity in Gaza, where Israel’s assault after the Oct. 7 attack has killed more than 34,000 people, according to local health officials, and aid groups warn a famine may be imminent.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
The 12-year-old boy speaks with an NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, about how he was shot by Israeli forces while trying to get food aid.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
What's in the foreign aid bill The package includes $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine; $26.4 billion to support Israel, along with humanitarian aid for Gaza; and $8.1 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024
The bills will result in $60 billion in support for Ukraine, along with another $17 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and elsewhere and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific.
—Jenny Porter Tilley, The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2024
Second, Russia may have waited until Ukraine’s power plants were less protected by air defenses, an increasingly scarce resource after two years of war, and with aid from the United States stalled for months by Congress.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near aid
Cite this Entry
“Aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aid. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aid
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act of helping
b
: help given : assistance
2
3
: someone or something that is of help or assistance
a visual aid
Medical Definition
aid
1 of 2 noun1
: the act of helping or treating
also
: the help or treatment given
in need of immediate medical aid
2
: an assisting person or group
a laboratory aid
compare aide
3
: something by which assistance is given : an assisting device
a visual aid
especially
: hearing aid
AID
2 of 2 abbreviation
artificial insemination by donor
Legal Definition
aid
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to provide with what is useful in achieving an end
conspiracy to counsel or aid draft resisters—K. A. Cohen
—often used in the phrase aid and abet
see also abet
K. A. Cohen
: to be of use
aided in the commission of the crime
aider
noun
aid
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of aiding
render aid to the principal
2
: help given
especially
: tangible means of assistance (as money or supplies)
aid to the disabled
giving aid and comfort to the enemy
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