aid

verb

\ ˈād

aided; aiding; aids

Definition of aid

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

: to provide with what is useful or necessary in achieving an end aid a cause aid a friend

intransitive verb

: to give assistance research that aided in the discovery of a new drug

aid

noun

Definition of aid (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : 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

2a 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

AID

abbreviation

Definition of AID (Entry 3 of 3)

1 Agency for International Development

2 artificial insemination by donor

Other Words from aid Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about aid

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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: Verb

The paper is a first compilation of observations that could be used to aid in the animal’s protection. — Douglas Main, National Geographic, "The ocean's largest, rarest stingray revealed in new video," 17 June 2019 Earlier this year the county provided a downtown building for the San Diego Rapid Response Network, a coalition of nonprofits, to use to aid asylum-seeking families. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Nearly a hundred residents told Board of Supervisors how to spend $6.2 billion," 14 June 2019 Shine MSD is a program at Stoneman Douglas High School, that aims to use the arts to aid in mental health and healing. — Carmen Dipippo, PEOPLE.com, "How Broadway's Tony-Winning Oklahoma! Revival Is Standing Up Against Gun Violence," 14 June 2019 Money raised on the website www.jgarf.org will be used to aid rescue operations, adoptions and shelters. — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, "James Garner had a big heart for dogs; Daughter Gigi kicks off animal rescue fund in his name," 14 June 2019 The submarine will mark the first time the shipyard is using all-digital blueprints to aid in construction. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Officially Begins Building Its New Missile Submarine," 29 May 2019 Of course, the use of computers to aid in scientific research goes back about 75 years, and the method of manually poring over data in search of meaningful patterns originated millennia earlier. — Quanta Magazine, "How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Science," 11 Mar. 2019 Arriaga, however, fled the scene and a chase ensued, with a Dallas police helicopter eventually aiding the pursuit. — Marc Ramirez, Dallas News, "Kidnapping suspect arrested after chase in Old East Dallas," 22 June 2019 But prosecutors eventually filed a complaint charging him with aiding a terrorist organization and engaging in an act of terrorism. — Perry Vandell, azcentral, "Police: Terrorism suspect swore allegiance to ISIS before attacking MCSO deputy," 20 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

About 83 percent of the aid under the Market Facilitation Program went to soybean farmers suffering under China’s retaliatory tariffs. — Bill Salisbury, Twin Cities, "MN farmers take $681M in Trump bailout to help stem trade losses," 8 July 2019 While 85 percent of students are estimated to receive some kind of financial aid to offset the price tag of their education, this is how much the cost of tuition, room, board and other fees are going up at some of Indiana's schools this fall. — Casey Smith, Indianapolis Star, "Many Indiana colleges and universities are increasing tuition. Here's how much they cost.," 29 June 2019 More than half the tracks across CAR (there are only a handful of metaled roads) are unsafe; there were 396 attacks on aid workers in 2018. — Sebastian Shukla, Tim Lister And Clarissa Ward, CNN, "The forgotten crisis that has displaced 1.2 million people," 27 June 2019 Pemón leaders declared their intention to peacefully intervene in support of the aid, setting the stage for a showdown with Maduro’s government. — Michael Canyon Meyer, Outside Online, "The Murder of Venezuela's Visionary Adventure Guide," 24 June 2019 For two hours, the planes had targeted the convoy, killing 20 civilians and aid workers. — Hiba Barakat, Teen Vogue, "Syrian Journalist Hiba Barakat Explains How Women Are Finding Ways to Survive the War," 18 June 2019 The rule changes governing how retailers qualify to take SNAP are part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten work requirements for recipients of federal aid and root out fraud. — Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Changing food stamp rules cause drop in sales for some Lexington Market vendors," 17 June 2019 Mark Kahler, the vice president for university communication, said more than 95% of the student body receives some form of financial aid. — Steve Sadin, Lake County News-Sun, "New Trinity president hopes to help students 'do redemptive work in the world'," 15 June 2019 Sooner or later, the bats must supply some sort of aid. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros mailbag: When will Jose Altuve return to action?," 13 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for aid

The first known use of aid was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for aid

aid

verb

\ ˈād

aided; aiding

Kids Definition of aid

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to provide what is useful or necessary : help “… might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?”— J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire

aid

noun

Kids Definition of aid (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of helping

2 : help given The teacher sought the aid of several students for the project.

3 : someone or something that is of help or assistance The compass is an aid to navigation.

aid

noun

\ ˈād

Medical Definition of aid

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : 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

abbreviation

Medical Definition of AID (Entry 2 of 2)

artificial insemination by donor

aid

transitive verb

Legal Definition of aid

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

intransitive verb

: to be of use aided in the commission of the crime