aid

play

verb \ ˈād \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of aid

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 a new drug

—

aider

noun

See aid defined for English-language learners

See aid defined for kids

Examples of aid in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of aid from the Web

The agency settled on endorsing a voluntary framework in which the wireless industry pledges steps such as sharing traffic and aiding one another during emergencies.

— todd shields, Bloomberg.com, "Harvey Knockout of Cell Service Revives Talk of Backup Power," 30 Aug. 2017
The United States has sanctioned Iranian specialists for aiding North Korea's development of a new heavy rocket engine, one that appears related to the first stage of the newest North Korean missiles.

— chicagotribune.com, "Trump's next self-inflicted crisis is a nuclear Iran," 30 Aug. 2017
Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, his company and his foundation are getting involved in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, pledging at least $2 million to help aid those affected in the Gulf Coast region by the deadly storm.

— manny navarro, miamiherald, "Heat owner Micky Arison, Carnival pledge at least $2 million in hurricane relief," 30 Aug. 2017
The event is the group's big fundraiser with proceeds benefitting local, non-profit organizations that support the Cincy Kids 4 Kids mission as well as aiding children and families in need.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "End of summer festivals, reopening of Wolfpen-Pleasant Hill Road," 30 Aug. 2017
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott activated 3,000 National Guard troops in addition to hundreds of other state emergency personnel aiding local first responders.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "More Kentucky airmen deploy to Texas to help with Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts," 29 Aug. 2017
Aiding victims Kristine Davis, a 20-year member of the fire company, is organizing Wednesday’s donation drive at the main station on Hickory Avenue in Bel Air.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Donation drive planned in Bel Air Wednesday to aid Harvey victims," 29 Aug. 2017
Fish CT scans from Summers's lab are already aiding other research.

— ryan cross, Science | AAAS, "New 3D scanning campaign will reveal 20,000 animals in stunning detail," 24 Aug. 2017
Kilpatrick's mother, 45-year-old Melinda Lefan, was also charged with permitting/aiding escape earlier this month and was released from jail on $16,000 bond pending her trial.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "'Peanut butter jailbreak' escapee's teen sister, her fiance charged with aiding getaway," 23 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of aid

Middle English eyden, from Anglo-French aider, from Latin adjutare, frequentative of adjuvare, from ad- + juvare to help

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

aid Synonyms

Synonyms

abet, help, assist, back, backstop, prop (up), support

Antonyms

hinder

Related Words

advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve

Near Antonyms

balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injure

aid

noun

Definition of aid

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

See aid defined for English-language learners

Examples of aid in a Sentence

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 of aid from the Web

Both said that financial aid had made a higher education attainable for them.

— mará rose williams and tod palmer tpalmer@kcstar.com, kansascity, "University of Missouri to offer free tuition and fees to qualifying students," 24 Aug. 2017
Starting in the 2018 school year, the Sharonville Branch Library will provide a homework help aid to assist students with homework.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: Literacy at the Sharonville Library easy as ABC," 23 Aug. 2017
After accepting the Yale offers, which hinged on the Ivy League school's generous financial aid package, the boys maintained some structure over the summer through jobs and internships.

— malaika jabali, Essence.com, "Black Excellence: These Quadruplet Brothers Are All Headed To Yale This Fall," 22 Aug. 2017
In Washington state, board members at End of Life Washington, a nonprofit that supports medical aid-in-dying, created an advance directive focused on people with dementia.

— jonel aleccia, Kaiser Health News, "Despite Advance Directive, Dementia Patient Denied Last Wish, Says Spouse," 21 Aug. 2017
Minnesota governor Lucius F. Hubbard also sent aid and began to raise money, writes Cartwright.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "One of the World’s Most Famous Hospitals Was Originally a Makeshift Tornado Relief Clinic," 21 Aug. 2017
A spokesman for the Gary/Chicago International Airport said the airport is prohibited from preventing any flights from flying in and out of the airport as a condition for receiving federal aid for airport projects.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "ICE: More than 12,000 immigrants have been removed from Gary airport since 2013," 18 Aug. 2017
Two Naperville Park District employees who came to the aid of a family after their canoe capsized on the DuPage River were honored Thursday night by the district board.

— bill bird, Naperville Sun, "Naperville Park District officials salute 2 employees, city police sergeant," 11 Aug. 2017
Fifteen seats have been allocated for the millions of Senegalese living overseas in a nation where remittances exceed aid or direct foreign investment.

— malick ciss, Bloomberg.com, "Jailed Mayor, Ex-President Contest Senegal Parliamentary Vote," 28 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of aid

see ¹aid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

aid Synonyms

Synonyms

adjunct, adjutant, helper, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helpmate, helpmeet, lieutenant, mate, sidekick

Antonyms

disadvantage, drawback, encumbrance, hindrance, impediment, minus

Related Words

attendant, handmaiden (also handmaid), maid, maidservant, scullion, servant; auxiliary, legman, subordinate, underling; employee (also employe), hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker; gal Friday, girl Friday; man Friday, right hand; aide-de-camp

Near Antonyms

constraint, inhibitor, liability, obstacle, obstruction, restraint, stranglehold

AID

abbreviation

Definition of AID

1 Agency for International Development

2 artificial insemination by donor

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

AID Defined for Kids

aid

play

verb \ ˈād \

Definition of aid for Students

aided; aiding

: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

Definition of aid for Students

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.

Medical Dictionary

aid

play

noun \ ˈād \

medical Definition of aid

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

artificial insemination by donor

Law Dictionary

aid

transitive verb

legal Definition of aid

: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

—

aider

noun

aid

noun

legal Definition of aid

1 :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

Learn More about aid

See words that rhyme with aid Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aid Spanish Central: Translation of aid Nglish: Translation of aid for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of aid for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aid

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aid

Definition of aid

aider

From the M-W Editors

Examples of aid in a Sentence

Recent Examples of aid from the Web

Origin and Etymology of aid

aid Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

aid

Definition of aid

Examples of aid in a Sentence

Recent Examples of aid from the Web

Origin and Etymology of aid

aid Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

AID

Definition of AID

Other Economics Terms

Phrases Related to AID

Related Phrases

AID Defined for Kids

aid

Definition of aid for Students

aid

Definition of aid for Students

Medical Dictionary

aid

medical Definition of aid

AID

medical Definition of AID

Law Dictionary

aid

legal Definition of aid

aider

aid

legal Definition of aid

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