Synonyms

helper

American

[hel-per] / ˈhɛl pər /

noun

a person or thing that helps or gives assistance, support, etc.

Synonyms:

ally, auxiliary, backer, supporter, assistant, aid
an extra locomotive attached to a train at the front, middle, or rear, especially to provide extra power for climbing a steep grade.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

helpers

plural

Etymology

Origin of helper

First recorded in 1250–1300; help + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

helper helpers

Ogwumike moved into fifth on the Sparks’ all-time assists list with her third helper in the first quarter, passing Mwadi Mabika.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

These helper T cells triggered ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by iron-dependent oxidative stress.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2026

At times, he both flew the plane and took the pictures, only needing a helper to swap out the glass plate negatives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

Claude Code, the AI-powered helper for writing computer code, has become popular in recent months.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026

I once asked Tracy Ediger, the Fugees’ team manager and all-around helper to the players and their families, what she thought people most misunderstood about Luma and the Fugees program.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

The start rate for parade and pageant helpers is $26 an hour, while the start rate for stage scheduling assistants is $28.25 an hour, according to the union.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service,” a follow-up series that debuted in 2025, pushed the premise further still: undercover helpers, surveillance, insiders and Ramsay comparing the operation to going “full on MI6” with restaurants.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

He is also pushing platforms for robo-cars and humanoid helpers.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

Fewer pups means the groups get smaller over time, and there are fewer helpers available when mothers do give birth.

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

Claudia selected where they would hide during that dangerous time immediately after the museum was closed to the public and before all the guards and helpers left.

From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023