-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- beleaguer scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny
- ALL
Definition of assist
transitive verb
: to give usually supplementary support or aid to She assisted the boy with his lessons.
intransitive verb
1 : to give support or aid assisted at the stove Another surgeon assisted on the operation.
2 : to be present as a spectator … the ideal figures assisting at Italian holy scenes. — Mary McCarthy
People Are Reading
Examples of assist in a Sentence
The device assists those who can't climb stairs.
The President was assisted by his advisers.
She assisted the boy with his homework.
Another doctor assisted him with the operation.
Another doctor assisted with the operation.
Federal agents are assisting with the investigation.
She assisted in making the decision.
The cream assists in the prevention of skin cancer.
Recent Examples of assist from the Web
-
BNP PARIBAS, France’s biggest bank, pleaded guilty in America three years ago to assisting a monstrous regime in east Africa.
-
Many design centers offer hourly decorating and shopping services that can assist you; some fabric shops, workrooms and websites may be able to place an order for you as well.
-
Kansas City police officers were sent to the scene shortly after 10 p.m. to assist paramedics after a caller requested an ambulance.
-
Though chimpanzees have been spotted drumming in the past, and harbor seals can follow a beat, the use of tools to assist in making music has only ever been observed in one other species: humans.
-
Anyone with information that could assist investigators with the theft is being asked to call Erlanger Police at 859-727-7599.
-
In the future, Ukrainians might assist the Chinese in organizing the production of the technology in China, sources said.
-
Mr. Koch said more companies were creating policies or strengthening existing ones to clarify what employees can and cannot do and to better assist them when travel disruptions occur.
-
Members serve meals at Ronald McDonald House near Rady Children’s Hospital and assist the club’s youth groups each winter in hanging and taking down holiday decorations.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assist'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of assist
Middle French or Latin; Middle French assister to help, stand by, from Latin assistere, from ad- + sistere to cause to stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand
assist
Definition of assist
1 US : an act or action that helps someone : an act of assistance He wrote the story with an assist from a friend. [=with the help of a friend]
2 : the action (such as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout (as in baseball) or score a goal (as in basketball or hockey); also : official credit given for such an action was credited with 5 assists in the first half
3 : a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance
Origin and Etymology of assist
see 1assist
ASSIST Defined for English Language Learners
assist
playDefinition of assist for English Language Learners
-
: to give support or help : to make it easier for someone to do something or for something to happen
ASSIST Defined for Kids
Definition of assist for Students
assisted
;assisting
: to give support or help He assisted his mother in preparing dinner.
Word Root of assist
The Latin word sistere, meaning “to stand,” “to appear,” “to stop,” or “to put,” gives us the root sist. Words from the Latin sistere have something to do with standing, appearing, stopping, or putting. To assist, or help, is to stand by someone in order to give aid. To consist is to be made up of a number of thing put together. To exist, or have actual being, is to appear real. To persist is to refuse to stop doing or saying something.
Definition of assist for Students
: an act of supporting or helping I finished my chores with an assist from my friends.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of assist
: to give usually supplementary support or aid to assist the patient up the stairs assist respiration mechanically
intransitive verb
: to give support or aid
assist
Medical Definition of assist
: an act or procedure that provides assistance external pressure circulatory assist employs compression of the lower extremities—P. W. Wright
Learn More about assist
-
See words that rhyme with assist Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for assist Spanish Central: Translation of assist Nglish: Translation of assist for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of assist for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up assist? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!