assist

1 of 2

verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

assisted; assisting; assists

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

assist

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of assist

Verb

• aid
• help

Noun

• assistance
• help
• support
• boost
• aid

Examples of assist in a Sentence

Verb

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 on the Web

Verb

The service Everyone on staff is friendly and eager to assist. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, went on trial in Woolwich Crown Court on charges of engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran’s foreign intelligence service between August 2024 and March 2025. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

Former Kansas one-and-done men’s basketball guard Darryn Peterson scored three points on 1-of-5 shooting with six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two turnovers Sunday in his first NBA preseason game as a member of the Utah Jazz. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026

Leo Carlsson had three assists for the Ducks, including the setup for Granlund’s winner in front of Jacob Markstrom. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English assisten "to help, aid, give aid (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French assister (Middle French also "to be present near, stand near" [with a "to"]), borrowed from Latin assistō, assistere "to take up a position near, stand by, stand by as a supporter or advocate," from ad- ad- (assimilated to as-) + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt," going back to Indo-European *sti-sth₂-e-, reduplicated present formation from the base *steh₂- "set up (in a place), take a position," whence also Old Irish ˑsissedar (in arˑsissedar "[s/he] stays, stands fast"), Greek hístēmi, histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístamai, hístasthai "to take up a position, come and stand," Sanskrit tíṣṭhati "(s/he) takes a position, stands," Avestan hištaṇti "(they) take a position" — more at stand entry 1

Noun

derivative of assist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assist

• ventricular assist device
• with an assist from

Rhymes for assist

• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

Kids Definition

assist

1 of 2 verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

: to give support or aid : help

assist

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of assisting

2

: the action of a player who by passing a ball or puck makes it possible for a teammate to make a putout or score a goal

Medical Definition

assist

1 of 2 transitive verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist 

: 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

2 of 2 noun

: an act or procedure that provides assistance

external pressure circulatory assist employs compression of the lower extremities

—P. W. Wright