assist

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

Synonyms of assist

• aid
• help

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 on the Web

Jackson Blake quickly followed on a goal assisted by Taylor Hall and Ehlers. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Their concierge team also is available to assist with arranging private airport transfers. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026

City officials ask that anyone with information that can assist in the investigation contact the local chapter of Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 June 2026

Adams and McKennie are both starters with Adams in a deep-lying role to assist on defense, possession and transitions while McKennie is in a free-roaming playmaking position to support the attack. —Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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