aid

[ eyd ]

See synonyms for aid on Thesaurus.com

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.

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.

confusables note For 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 for aid

2	abet, back, foster, advance
4	succor; relief; subsidy, grant

See synonyms for aid on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for aid

2	hinder, frustrate

See antonyms for aid on Thesaurus.com

Other words from aid

aid·er, noun
aid·ful, adjective
aid·less, adjective
un·aid·ed, adjective
un·aid·ed·ly, adverb
un·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 ]

nounU.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

Sun Country is at least the second firm with ties to Apollo to benefit from government aid.
Treasury emergency aid loan goes to airline backed by Amazon and Apollo, showing government’s long reach | Yeganeh Torbati | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
Economists fear that trend could worsen in the fourth quarter without more government aid to struggling households and businesses.
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
Deutsche Bank economist Brett Ryan estimates a stimulus package may arrive as late as February, in which case aid likely wouldn’t be distributed until early March.
When Congress is likely to make a deal to send more stimulus checks | Anne Sraders | October 28, 2020 | Fortune
About 30 non-doctors learned first aid from a software system designed to help astronauts.
Surviving Mars missions will take planning and lots of innovation | Maria Temming | October 22, 2020 | Science News For Students
Members of the Lagos tech startup scene, the continent’s hottest tech ecosystem, and others have raised thousands of dollars to support protesters with food, supplies and legal aid.
Why Nigeria’s Youth Won’t Stop Protesting | Charu Kasturi | October 16, 2020 | Ozy

Of course, old Mole was represented as Harkaway's chief adviser, and his aider and abettor in the late pasha's death.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks | Bracebridge Hemyng
Qui peut aussi aider aux Anglois pour apprendre la langue Franoise.
The Teaching and Cultivation of the French Language in England during Tudor and Stuart Times | Kathleen Lambley
When he was in the eyes of the world a criminal—an aider, abettor, lurer-away of youth and impulsiveness?
The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight | Elizabeth von Arnim
For if I take this charge upon me for your sake, men will say I was your aider in this crime that they charge upon you.
King Arthur's Knights | Henry Gilbert
Toutefois, il peut tre autoris par le Prsident s'aider de notes ou documents si la nature des faits rapports en ncessite l'emploi.
International Law. A Treatise. Volume II (of 2) | Lassa Francis Oppenheim

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 assists: a 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

Origin of aid

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

Derived forms of aid

aider, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Aid (2 of 3)

Aid

n combining form

denoting a charitable organization or function that raises money for a cause: Band 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

Browse