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

“It feels like the benefits and the perks that we have enjoyed for a long time keep vanishing,” said Todd Stubbler, a 61-year-old pageant helper who has worked at Disneyland for close to 35 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

For Renu Devi, a 38-year-old helper from Uttar Pradesh, the traditional system feels safer.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Meghan recently called Lilibet "Mama's little helper", after posting an image of them in what looks like a walk-in wardrobe, where the duchess is trying on a coat while her daughter is crouched down nearby.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2026

He’ll need a helper for the mission, someone who knows the town inside and out, who knows all the people, their habits and personalities.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

It helped shift my attention to the supporting cast: Shioli Kutsuna and Aoi Yamada make a playful tag team as two slippery helpers skulking around the margins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 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

The helpers look after the pups, nurse and feed them, protect them from predators, and even teach them how to eat a scorpion safely.

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

Kate also admitted that sometimes the sisters brought in helpers.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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