assist

American  

[uh-sist] / əˈsɪst /

verb (used with object)

1. to give support or aid to; help.

   Please assist him in moving the furniture.

   Synonyms:

   promote, back, befriend, abet, sustain

   Antonyms:

   frustrate, hinder

2. to be associated with as an assistant or helper.

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verb (used without object)

1. to give aid or help.

2. to be present, as at a meeting or ceremony.

noun

1. Sports.

   1. Baseball. a play that helps to put out a batter or base runner.

   2. Basketball, Ice Hockey. a play that helps a teammate in gaining a goal.

   3. the official credit scored for such plays.

2. a helpful act.

   She finished her homework without an assist from her father.

3. Machinery. an electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical means of increasing power, efficiency, or ease of use.

   a luxury automobile equipped with assists for brakes, steering, windows, and seat adjustment.

assist British  

/ əˈsɪst /

verb

1. to give help or support to (a person, cause, etc); aid

2. to work or act as an assistant or subordinate to (another)

3. ice hockey to help (a team-mate) to score, as by passing the puck

4. archaic to be present; attend

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noun

1. the act of helping; aid; assistance

2. baseball the act of a player who throws or deflects a batted ball in such a way that a team is enabled to put out an opponent

3. sport

   1. a pass or other action by a player which enables another player to score a goal

   2. a credit given for such an action

Related Words

See help.

Other Word Forms

• assister noun
• assistive adjective
• nonassister noun
• overassist verb
• reassist verb (used with object)
• unassisted adjective
• unassisting adjective
• well-assisted adjective

Etymology

Origin of assist

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin assistere “to stand by, help,” from as- as- ( def. ) + sistere “to cause to stand, stop,” derivative of stāre “to stand” ( stand ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

The club thanked medical staff stewards and nearby supporters for assisting during the incident, and said it would "ensure those involved receive the appropriate care".

From BBC

Olise's two assists brought his tally to 25 in 50 league games, more than any other player to have played a half-century of Bundesliga matches.

From Barron's

Zalando said it would begin negotiations with the Erfurt works council immediately and that it has developed some support offers to assist its employees.

From The Wall Street Journal

They can help people with assisted living, tourism, and general convenience, "but at the same time we can't have people misusing them".

From BBC

And then, thirdly, the pride in assisting America in the seizing of a ship in the North Atlantic, itself a reminder of how close to home this brings the headlines of recent days.

From BBC

Related Words

• aid
• back
• benefit
• boost
• cooperate
• expedite
• facilitate
• reinforce
• support
• sustain
• take care of