aid 1 of 2

noun

Definition of aidnext
1
as in aide
a person who helps a more skilled person Jack is his mother's preferred aid in the kitchen, as his sister Janice is clumsy when it comes to chopping and peeling

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2
as in benefit
a thing that helps a dictionary is a handy aid for working crossword puzzles

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in assistance
an act or instance of helping the clerk asked if she needed any aid carrying out her purchases

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aid

2 of 2

verb

ˈād How to pronounce aid (audio)
as in to assist
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end sought to aid her in her search for a dachshund puppy by looking online

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aid
Noun
Cherfilus-McCormick had sought to return to Congress despite a pending federal indictment that accuses her of stealing $5 million in federal disaster aid. — Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Connecticut’s chief heating and energy assistance grant will increase this winter, according to a plan recently approved by state legislators, but aid remains below pre-pandemic levels. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
Another driver of growth in the quarter was Tencent's marketing services, aided by AI. — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Those features would have aided significantly in traction and capability. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aid
  1. aide
  2. benefit
  3. assistance
  4. assist
  5. assistant
  6. advantage
  7. help
  8. apprentice
Noun
  • The story begins on February 5 of that year, when a graduate student and dormitory aide discovered that the small canvas was missing from the university’s Students Union building.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Sankofa United Principal Leigh Daniels said all of the school’s teacher positions are fully staffed and so are other key positions like instructional aides and counselors.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of aide
Noun
  • Websites for ayahuasca retreats highlight the emotional and spiritual benefits of the nonstop vomiting that comes from ingesting the plant mixture.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Those 45-minutes-per-game triangular tournaments offer the lowest physical benefit according to the sports scientists The Athletic spoke to.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of benefit
Noun
  • The United States, once the top provider of assistance to Afghanistan, no longer even ranks in the top five of donor nations.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Police said that detectives were called for assistance after dispatchers were notified of a man down along Pine Hollow Road just after midnight on Friday.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistance
Verb
  • University police, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted several other federal and state agencies with the investigation, which is ongoing.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • From last fall through late April, the program had handled 138 calls, most of which sorted into the check well-being category (62) or the citizen assist one (56).
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of assist
Noun
  • Alex Wagner, who served as assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs during the Biden administration, argued recruiting has remained remarkably insulated from those political battles.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Coach Ken Niumatalolo built a veteran staff of assistants under Filimoeatu, adding defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Brian Norwood along with safeties coach Joe Dale.
    — Niles Hall, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • The Democrat leads Republican challenger Mike Collins in every major public poll, holds a massive fundraising advantage and is now trying to peel away GOP voters.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called out his struggling club after a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday cost them a significant tiebreaker in the race for home-field advantage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • Arnold did a good job of rerouting Daniels, but Simpson trusted Daniels to get across his face, knowing that Arnold didn’t have safety help.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The case highlights the clash between the public’s expectation of privacy and the government’s contention that warrantless searches of phones and other electronics help keep Americans safe.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of help
Noun
  • During his first two years as a starter, Santori was the apprentice who carefully studied the game and developed organically under the influence of his older peers.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty years later, John (Pierre) is serving as an apprentice to an older, grouchier Hal.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprentice

Browse Nearby Words

ahead of
aid
aide
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Cite this Entry

“Aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aid. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on aid

Nglish: Translation of aid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aid

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