helping

[hel-ping]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that helps.

2. a portion of food served to a person at one time.

   That's his third helping of ice cream.

adjective

1. giving aid, assistance, support, or the like.

helping

/ ˈhɛlpɪŋ /

noun

1. a single portion of food taken at a meal

Other Word Forms

• helpingly adverb
• unhelping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of helping¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; help, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

When guidance can vary so much, some church leaders have taken a more locally-focused ward approach — such as delivering food aid to members, helping out with rent or even sharing personal contacts with immigration lawyers.

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Brown became one of the nation’s pioneering experts on the disorder, helping to shape its understanding, both in the public and medical communities.

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The move was aimed at helping potential investors evaluate the business, he said.

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The new rules exacerbated other causes on both the A320neo and its predecessor, helping transform what had been mostly isolated incidents into a pattern of repeat offenders, the Journal’s analysis suggests.

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Back then, it was guaranteed, helping raise his pay to nearly $1.2 million.

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