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
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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.
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
First Known Use: 15th century
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
First Known Use: 1597
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!