Definition of auxiliary
- an auxiliary branch of the state university
- In "I will go," the word "will" is an auxiliary verb.
- a telescope with its auxiliary apparatus
- an auxiliary power plant
- an auxiliary police force
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a sailboat with an auxiliary engine
the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auxiliary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary;
basic, fundamental, primary, prime;
all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital;
backup, makeshift, substitute;
added, additional, another, further;
adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary;
secondary, subordinate, subservient, subsidiary;
dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential;
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auxiliary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
: available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed
: a group that provides help or assistance
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for auxiliary Spanish Central: Translation of auxiliary Nglish: Translation of auxiliary for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of auxiliary for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about auxiliary
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