assistance

noun

as·​sis·​tance ə-ˈsi-stən(t)s 

: the act of helping or assisting someone or the help supplied : aid

financial and technical assistance

Can I be of any assistance? [=can I help you?]

Synonyms of assistance

• assist
• support
• help
• boost
• aid
• encouragement

Examples of assistance in a Sentence

Any assistance you can give me would be appreciated.

I'll be happy to provide you with whatever assistance you may need.

Recent Examples on the Web

The team will use nearly 24,000 lights, 550 icicles, 400 strobes and other lights with assistance from Stage Nine Entertainment, the release said. — Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

The Motion Picture Television Fund has increasingly been providing financial assistance and services to industry members. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026

Democrats will likely be keen to use hearings and investigations to revisit the dismantling of USAID and the human costs of cuts to foreign assistance. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

The funds from Proposition 40 were to be allocated 90% toward healthcare services for the public, with the balance on education and food assistance. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English assistence, assistance, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin assistentia "presence, participation, guidance," going back to Late Latin, "aid," noun derivative of Latin assistent-, assistens, present participle of assistere "to take up a position near, stand by, stand by as a supporter or advocate" — more at assist entry 1

Note: In the case of both this word and assistant Modern English has chosen the French form with -a- in the suffix rather than Latin -e-.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing assistance

• come to someone's assistance
• directory assistance
• go on public assistance
• of (any) assistance
• public assistance
• writ of assistance

Rhymes for assistance

• consistence
• desistance
• existence
• insistence
• persistence
• resistance
• subsistence
• coexistence
• nonexistence
• distance
• magnetoresistance

Kids Definition

assistance

noun

as·​sis·​tance ə-ˈsis-tən(t)s 

: the act of assisting

also : the help given