aided; aiding; aids
: to provide with what is useful or necessary in achieving an end
aid a cause
aid a friend
: to give assistance
research that aided in the discovery of a new drug
aider
noun
1
a
: the act of helping someone
climbers in need of aid
b
: help given : assistance
providing aid and comfort
specifically
: tangible means of assistance (such as money or supplies)
government aid
2
a
chiefly US
: aide
worked as a teacher's aid
b
: something by which assistance is given : an assisting device
an aid to understanding
a visual aid
see hearing aid
3
: a subsidy granted to the king by the English parliament until the 18th century for an extraordinary purpose
4
: a tribute paid by a vassal to his lord
1
Agency for International Development
2
artificial insemination by donor
Synonyms
Examples of aid in a Sentence
Verb
They gave money in order to aid the cause.
She aided them in their efforts.
He jumped into the water to aid the drowning child.
a home run that was aided by the wind
She aided the government in the attempt to fight illiteracy.
Noun
The project was completed with the aid of several students.
The work was done with the aid of a computer.
The government has given millions of dollars in economic aid to these nations.
She applied for financial aid in order to go to college.
The diagram is provided as an aid to understanding.
The computer is an aid to keeping costs down.
He teaches art with visual aids.
Recent Examples on the Web
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
Enzyme supplements such as amylase (for carbohydrates), protease (for proteins), and lipase (for fats) can aid in digestion and reduce symptoms of bloating, gas, and indigestion, especially for individuals with enzyme deficiencies or digestive disorders.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Lysine also aids the body in absorbing certain minerals, especially calcium.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Tuvalu is not the only island nation digitizing: Vanuatu is preserving its endangered languages, and Singapore constructed a virtual replica of itself to aid in urban planning and disaster preparedness.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
The federal government already sent Maryland $60 million in emergency aid and repurposed an existing $8 million federal grant to aid economic recovery.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Yet Georgia, another swing state, still grapples with relatively high inflation, possibly aiding former President Donald Trump.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Herbal alternatives may produce similar effects to dietary fiber, aiding in the passage of carbohydrates without absorption.
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Mount Everest climbers will now have to pick up their own poop amid their travels on the mountain.
Nepal, the mountain’s home country, has mandated a new rule that climbers must bring their waste down with them from Earth's highest mountain above sea level in an effort to aid pollution issues.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Here’s what Ingram tells TIME about the challenges to delivering aid and the needs.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024
Lives lost in Gaza:Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel's war in Gaza
Congress could quickly agree on Israel aid, Rubio says
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., seemed to suggest Congress could quickly send aid to Israel, without sending anything to Ukraine.
—Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (Thibault de Montalembert), reluctantly works to convince King Louis XVI to come to America’s aid.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Her opposition comes as Johnson faces mounting pressure to call a vote on approving more aid for Ukraine, something Greene strongly opposes.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
But there is no way to replace the lapse of U.S. military aid.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2024
There has been no apparent work done yet on increasing aid to Gaza by opening an additional border crossing from Israel and accepting shipments at a nearby Israeli port, but Israel said that both changes remain in the works.
—Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, which has been delivering food in Gaza, reported that seven of its aid workers have been killed by an Israeli attack late Monday.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
Being so close to the finish line of a disappointing season, and hours from calling it a coaching career following two decades in the NBA, could easily aid in a final-day-of-school vibe around the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
Enzyme supplements such as amylase (for carbohydrates), protease (for proteins), and lipase (for fats) can aid in digestion and reduce symptoms of bloating, gas, and indigestion, especially for individuals with enzyme deficiencies or digestive disorders.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Lysine also aids the body in absorbing certain minerals, especially calcium.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Tuvalu is not the only island nation digitizing: Vanuatu is preserving its endangered languages, and Singapore constructed a virtual replica of itself to aid in urban planning and disaster preparedness.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
The federal government already sent Maryland $60 million in emergency aid and repurposed an existing $8 million federal grant to aid economic recovery.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Yet Georgia, another swing state, still grapples with relatively high inflation, possibly aiding former President Donald Trump.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Herbal alternatives may produce similar effects to dietary fiber, aiding in the passage of carbohydrates without absorption.
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Mount Everest climbers will now have to pick up their own poop amid their travels on the mountain.
Nepal, the mountain’s home country, has mandated a new rule that climbers must bring their waste down with them from Earth's highest mountain above sea level in an effort to aid pollution issues.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Noun
Second, Russia may have waited until Ukraine’s power plants were less protected by air defenses, an increasingly scarce resource after two years of war, and with aid from the United States stalled for months by Congress.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Here’s what Ingram tells TIME about the challenges to delivering aid and the needs.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024
Lives lost in Gaza:Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel's war in Gaza
Congress could quickly agree on Israel aid, Rubio says
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., seemed to suggest Congress could quickly send aid to Israel, without sending anything to Ukraine.
—Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (Thibault de Montalembert), reluctantly works to convince King Louis XVI to come to America’s aid.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Her opposition comes as Johnson faces mounting pressure to call a vote on approving more aid for Ukraine, something Greene strongly opposes.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
But there is no way to replace the lapse of U.S. military aid.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2024
There has been no apparent work done yet on increasing aid to Gaza by opening an additional border crossing from Israel and accepting shipments at a nearby Israeli port, but Israel said that both changes remain in the works.
—Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, which has been delivering food in Gaza, reported that seven of its aid workers have been killed by an Israeli attack late Monday.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English eyden, from Anglo-French aider, from Latin adjutare, frequentative of adjuvare, from ad- + juvare to help
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Time Traveler
The first known use of aid was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing aid
Dictionary Entries Near aid
Cite this Entry
“Aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aid. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
aid
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act of helping
b
: help given : assistance
2
3
: someone or something that is of help or assistance
a visual aid
Medical Definition
aid
1 of 2 noun1
: the act of helping or treating
also
: the help or treatment given
in need of immediate medical aid
2
: an assisting person or group
a laboratory aid
compare aide
3
: something by which assistance is given : an assisting device
a visual aid
especially
: hearing aid
AID
2 of 2 abbreviation
artificial insemination by donor
Legal Definition
aid
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to provide with what is useful in achieving an end
conspiracy to counsel or aid draft resisters—K. A. Cohen
—often used in the phrase aid and abet
see also abet
K. A. Cohen
: to be of use
aided in the commission of the crime
aider
noun
aid
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of aiding
render aid to the principal
2
: help given
especially
: tangible means of assistance (as money or supplies)
aid to the disabled
giving aid and comfort to the enemy
More from Merriam-Webster on aid
Nglish: Translation of aid for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of aid for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aid
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