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
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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
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In the case of Griffith's Park Full of Art, that someone translates into more than 25 volunteers who assist event coordinator Kathie Price.
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A Fairfax County Police helicopter is assisting Alexandria authorities in the investigation.
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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.
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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.
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The investigation details three distinct ways in which Ukrainian officials allegedly assisted Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
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Gordon Cole, Albert, Diane, and Agent Tammy Preston are called in to assist in interviewing the suspect.
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Sanders added that investigators are following a couple of leads, and that the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is assisting their investigation.
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Then there are costs associated with assisted-living facilities or in-home care.
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
Recent Examples of assist from the Web
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All 70 bicycles in the program have adjustable seating and front baskets, and 20 have electric-assist motors, designated by a lightening bolt on the back.
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The film was written by Gordon and Nanjiani, who plays his younger self (as a character also named Kumail), with a big league assist from chief comedy enabler Judd Apatow, who produced the film.
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
see 1assist
ASSIST Defined for English Language Learners
assist
playDefinition of assist for English Language Learners
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: 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
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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
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