aid

[ eyd ]

/ eɪd /

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verb (used with object)

to provide support for or relief to; help: to aid the victims of the fire.

to promote the progress or accomplishment of; facilitate.

verb (used without object)

to give help or assistance.

noun

help or support; assistance.

a person or thing that aids or furnishes assistance; helper; auxiliary.

aids, Manège.

Also called natural aids . the means by which a rider communicates with and controls a horse, as the hands, legs, voice, and shifts in weight.
Also called artificial aids . the devices used by a rider to increase control of a horse, as spurs, whip, and martingale.

aide-de-camp.

foreign aid.

a payment made by feudal vassals to their lord on special occasions.

English History. (after 1066) any of several revenues received by a king in the Middle Ages from his vassals and other subjects, limited by the Magna Charta to specified occasions.

OTHER WORDS FOR aid

2 abet, back, foster, advance.

4 succor; relief; subsidy, grant.

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OPPOSITES FOR aid

2 hinder, frustrate.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of aid

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English noun aide, eide, from Anglo-French, Old French aide, derivative of verb aid(i)er, from Latin adjūtāre “to help”; see also adjuvant

synonym study for aid

1. See help.

words often confused with aid

Although the nouns aid and aide both have among their meanings “an assisting person,” the spelling aide is increasingly used for the sense “helper, assistant”: One of the senator's aides is calling. Aide in military use is short for aide-de-camp. It is also the spelling in nurse's aide.

OTHER WORDS FROM aid

aid·er, nounaid·ful, adjectiveaid·less, adjectiveun·aid·ed, adjective

un·aid·ed·ly, adverbun·aid·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aid

1. aid , aide (see usage note at the current entry)2. aides, aids , AIDS

Other definitions for aid (2 of 3)

AID¹

[ eyd ]

/ eɪd /

noun U.S. Government.

the division of the United States International Development Cooperation Agency that coordinates the various foreign aid programs with U.S. foreign policy: established in 1961.

Origin of AID

A(gency for) I(nternational) D(evelopment)

Other definitions for aid (3 of 3)

AID²

abbreviation

American Institute of Decorators.

American Institute of Interior Designers.

British. artificial insemination donor.Also A.I.D.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aid in a sentence

Congress has not acted to provide any relief since approving $3 trillion in aid in the spring.
Democrats allege GOP refusal to accept election results is imperiling U.S. coronavirus response as cases, deaths spike|Erica Werner|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
The new government aid will help the company maintain cash reserves during a prolonged period of decreased demand for air travel.
Treasury emergency aid loan goes to airline backed by Amazon and Apollo, showing government’s long reach|Yeganeh Torbati|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
McConnell also indicated support shortly after the election for sending additional aid to cities and states, something that has been a central Democratic demand.
Lame-duck Congress and lame-duck president face huge challenges in coming weeks|Erica Werner, Paul Kane, Yasmeen Abutaleb|November 8, 2020|Washington Post
Powell has repeatedly called for more aid from Congress, particularly when it comes to getting direct relief to those in industries most affected by the pandemic, such as restaurants, retail and hospitality.
Fed chief says pace of economic recovery is moderating while pandemic threat looms large|Rachel Siegel|November 5, 2020|Washington Post

Many people faced gaps between the time their $600 emergency benefits lapsed and when their $300 in emergency aid kicked in.
U.S. economy recoups two-thirds of ground lost in first half of year, but there is still far to go|Rachel Siegel, Andrew Van Dam|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
Next door, a strip mall popped and hissed as unknown accelerants aided in its fiery destruction.
Raging Protesters Set Ferguson on Fire|Justin Glawe|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He recounted his own prayers to Mother Cabrini in 1998, which he believes aided him in becoming a U.S. citizen.
Mother Cabrini, Saint of the Green Card|Michael Luongo|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By one account, it aided U.S. troops in capturing or killing at least ten of those senior leaders from the battlefield.
How the NSA Became a Killing Machine|Shane Harris|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Four years later, Bush would be aided by the airing of a video by Osama bin Laden, which dropped just before Election Day.
Brace Yourself: October Election Surprises Surely on the Way|Matt Lewis|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Super PACs have aided both candidates, but Grimes has less dark-money support than McConnell.
Mystery Man Buys Kentucky for the GOP|Center for Public Integrity|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The artists of Oosterbeck and Brussels, who were her associates, materially aided her by their encouragement.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
With three or four more wounds, and the words with which he aided her to die, he finished with her.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Bahadur Shah held out against the vehement urging of his daughter aided now by the counsel of her brothers.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Imitation of the ways of their elders doubtless plays a part here, but it is aided by an instinct for adornment.
Children's Ways|James Sully
As the Americans retreated, the insurgents crept up, aided by a mist, to within short range and fired another volley.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for aid (1 of 3)

aid

/ (eɪd) /

verb

to give support to (someone to do something); help or assist

(tr) to assist financially

noun

assistance; help; support

a person, device, etc, that helps or assistsa teaching aid

Also: artificial aid mountaineering any of various devices such as piton or nut when used as a direct help in the ascent

(in medieval Europe; in England after 1066) a feudal payment made to the king or any lord by his vassals, usually on certain occasions such as the marriage of a daughter or the knighting of an eldest son

in aid of British informal in support of; for the purpose of

Derived forms of aid

aider, noun

Word Origin for aid

C15: via Old French aidier from Latin adjūtāre to help, from juvāre to help

British Dictionary definitions for aid (2 of 3)

Aid

-aid

n combining form

denoting a charitable organization or function that raises money for a causeBand Aid; Ferryaid

British Dictionary definitions for aid (3 of 3)

AID

abbreviation for

acute infectious disease

artificial insemination (by) donor: former name for Donor Insemination (DI)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012