assist

play

verb as·sist \ ə-ˈsist \

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

See assist defined for English-language learners

See assist defined for kids

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

In the case of Griffith's Park Full of Art, that someone translates into more than 25 volunteers who assist event coordinator Kathie Price.

— sue ellen ross, Post-Tribune, "Park Full of Art still going strong after 43 years," 19 July 2017
A Fairfax County Police helicopter is assisting Alexandria authorities in the investigation.

— rachel weiner, Washington Post, "Person shot in possible road rage incident in Alexandria," 19 July 2017
The Defense Department's Office of Economic Adjustment, a federal program that assists communities affected by planning for the nation's defense, will fund the Edgewood Small Area Study, according to the county.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford County to host July 18 public forum on Edgewood's future," 19 July 2017
Critics, including some church leaders, said parts of the bill that outlawed helping unauthorized immigrants was counter to Christian teachings about welcoming strangers and assisting the vulnerable.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Rep. Micky Hammon, sponsor of immigration bill, won't run next year," 18 July 2017
The investigation details three distinct ways in which Ukrainian officials allegedly assisted Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

— uri friedman, The Atlantic, "The 'What About Ukraine?' Defense of Trump Jr.'s Russia Meeting," 13 July 2017
Gordon Cole, Albert, Diane, and Agent Tammy Preston are called in to assist in interviewing the suspect.

— matt miller, Esquire, "That Blog From Twin Peaks Is Real and Could Contain a Major Secret," 10 July 2017
Sanders added that investigators are following a couple of leads, and that the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is assisting their investigation.

— gerald porter jr., Daily Southtown, "'Trying to get answers': Photos released of clothes like those worn by baby 'Jane Doe' in blaze," 6 July 2017
Then there are costs associated with assisted-living facilities or in-home care.

— katie brockman, USA TODAY, "The part of retirement no one plans for," 6 July 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

assist Synonyms

Synonyms

abet, aid, help, 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

assist

noun

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

See assist defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of assist from the Web

In Tuesday's win, Kane had a team-high six blocks to go along with 21 assists.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Nancy Kane more than able on block as Mother McAuley shuts down Sandburg," 29 Aug. 2017
Bird was aiming to become the WNBA career leader in assists.

— terry wood, The Seattle Times, "Mercury keeps Sue Bird from breaking assist mark, beats Storm," 27 Aug. 2017
LaPorte 6, Mishawaka 1 LaPorte: Morgan Llewellyn 3 goals; Madison Coates 2 goals; Gabrielle Latchford goal; Jaquelline Leal 3 assists.

— Post-Tribune, "Post-Tribune Local Scoreboard for Monday, Aug. 28," 27 Aug. 2017
Indian Creek d. Westminster Christian 25-23, 25-20 Indian Creek (2-0): Kate Schilling 7 assists, 8 digs, 3 aces.

— Naperville Sun, "West Suburban Local Scoreboard for Sunday, Aug. 27," 26 Aug. 2017
Tapp, a senior setter, was a major asset on the Eagles’ offense last year, notching 75 aces as well as the most assists in the 10th Region.

— alexa philippou, Cincinnati.com, "NKY high schools prep for 2017 volleyball season," 8 Aug. 2017
Even so, Blaxter hopes that his team's tardigrade genomes will continue to help tease out tardigrade's tangled relationships as well as assist in the development of useful applications for the creatures superpowers.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Why Are Tardigrades the World’s Hardiest Creature? DNA Offers Clues," 28 July 2017
That is the question biodata scientist Daniel Himmelstein at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues recently set out to answer, after an assist from Sci-Hub.

— lindsay mckenzie, Science | AAAS, "Sci-Hub’s cache of pirated papers is so big, subscription journals are doomed, data analyst suggests," 27 July 2017
Zibanejad, 24, had 14 goals and 23 assists in 56 games last season, his first with the team.

— associated press, New York Times, "Spanish Soccer Federation President Is Suspended," 25 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of assist

see ¹assist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1597

See Words from the same year

assist Synonyms

Synonyms

abetment, aid, help, assistance, backing, boost, hand, helping hand, leg up, lift, support

Antonyms

hindrance

Near Antonyms

constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint; deterrence, discouragement

ASSIST Defined for English Language Learners

assist

play

verb

Definition 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

assist

play

verb as·sist \ ə-ˈsist \

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.

assist

noun

Definition of assist for Students

:an act of supporting or helping

I finished my chores with an assist from my friends.

Medical Dictionary

assist

play

transitive verb as·sist \ ə-ˈsist \

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

noun

medical Definition of assist

:an act or procedure that provides assistance

external pressure circulatory assist employs compression of the lower extremities
—P. W. Wright

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assist

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Origin and Etymology of assist

assist Synonyms

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ASSIST Defined for English Language Learners

assist

Definition of assist for English Language Learners

ASSIST Defined for Kids

assist

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assist

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Medical Dictionary

assist

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assist

medical Definition of assist

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