help

1 of 2

verb

ˈhelp

Southern often ˈhep,

also ˈheəp

helped; helping; helps

Synonyms of help next

transitive verb

: to give assistance or support to (someone) : to provide (someone) with something that is useful or necessary in achieving an end

How can I help you?

He helps the children with their homework.

Can you help me get this jar open?

She helped him (walk) up/down the stairs.

: to make more pleasant or bearable : improve, relieve

bright curtains will help the room

took an aspirin to help her headache

archaic : rescue, save

Help us from famine / And plague and strife!—

Alfred Tennyson

: to be of use to : benefit

will do anything to help their cause

: to further the advancement of : promote

could help negotiations

: to change for the better

: to refrain from : avoid

we couldn't help laughing

: to keep from occurring : prevent

they couldn't help the accident

: to restrain (oneself) from doing something

knew they shouldn't go but couldn't help themselves

: to serve with food or drink especially at a meal

told the guests to help themselves

: to take something for (oneself) without permission

helped himself to the car keys

intransitive verb

: to give assistance or support

—often used with out

helps out with the housework

: to be of use or benefit

every little bit helps

noun

plural helps

: the act or an instance of doing or supplying something to make it easier for another to complete a task, deal with a problem, etc. : aid, assistance

I could use some help with the dishes.

We heard cries for help coming from the house.

We couldn't have done this without your help.

I'm glad I could be of help. [=I'm glad I could help.]

Example Sentences

Verb Don't blame me: I was only trying to help! Help! Somebody call the police! She took an aspirin to help her headache. Humor often helps a tense situation. It's not much money, but every little bit helps. Noun He thanked us for our help. I could use some help with the dishes. We could hear shouts for help coming from the house. He's been more of a hindrance than a help. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In a statement to Fox News Digital, SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said that the requirement will help prepare students to go into the workforce. —

Adam Sabes, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2023 A quarter of the sample will be analyzed for amino acids, which will help nail down the source of discrepancies between lab studies and meteorites. —

WIRED, 31 Jan. 2023 Satellites, which help connect emissions to a single source, aren't widely enough available. —

Cathy Bussewitz, ajc, 31 Jan. 2023 The Carlsons hope that their public outcry will help members of the legislature and the public understand the board’s policy on commutations and remind them of Carney’s crime. —

Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2023 The two will also be joined by Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley, who'll help Walton call the matchup between the Raptors and Suns starting at 9 p.m. EST. —

Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2023 The Kiehl's Magic Elixir contains castor, avocado, safflower, and rosemary leaf oil, which help moisturize kinky, curly, or coiled hair and aid in regrowth. —

Rebecca Deczynski, Health, 30 Jan. 2023 Carroll County residents are welcome to visit Exploration Commons in the Westminster public library branch Saturday to meet Pepper, a social humanoid robot who will help their coding dreams come to life. —

Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 27 Jan. 2023 The full financial costs of the labor settlements between UC and 48,000 academic workers who help power the system’s vaunted teaching and research engine are still being tallied. —

Teresa Watanabestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2023

Noun

Belle makes the best of her imprisonment with the help of some magical friends who also live at the castle. —

Kori Williams, Seventeen, 20 Jan. 2023 Five have returned to Martha’s Vineyard with the help of residents. —

Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023 Nicholas More, a photographer from the United Kingdom, found this seahorse with the help of a guide who directed him to the animals off the coast of Bali. —

Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Jan. 2023 In October, with the help of DNA genealogy, investigators were able to identify Lamar Vickerstaff as Baby Jane Doe’s father, police said. —

Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 20 Jan. 2023 Caraballo, who is also from Lawrenceville, was taken into custody with the help of Gwinnett County SWAT and the Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office fugitive unit. —

David Aaro, ajc, 20 Jan. 2023 Tammy and Jordan had prepared for the surrogacy process with the help of their family law attorney, Melissa Neckers, who explained how Michigan's 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act says any agreement between parties won't be recognized in court. —

Rachel Burchfield, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023 This leave-in spray has a lightweight formula that all hair types can enjoy and softens and smooths hair with the help of bamboo and yeast extracts. —

Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Jan. 2023 Even with the help of apps, deconstructing these foods to tally calories is often tedious and time-consuming. —

Time, 20 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'help.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.