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
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
Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who is associated with the Gaza Tribunal, admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 13 July 2025
As the war in Ukraine has dragged on, as well as Israel’s war in Gaza, US military aid for Ukraine and Israel has drained its arms stockpiles.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aid
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
To aid in future operation and prevent your window from getting stuck again, apply a spray lubricant, such as silicone spray, to the tracks.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who is associated with the Gaza Tribunal, admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025
Noun
As a part of Rubio’s reorganization, the State Department proposed a 50% reduction for aid to the world’s refugees in its 2026 budget request to Congress.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 13 July 2025
As the war in Ukraine has dragged on, as well as Israel’s war in Gaza, US military aid for Ukraine and Israel has drained its arms stockpiles.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for aid
Cite this Entry
“Aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aid. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share