assistance
Americannoun
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assistance
plural
noun
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help; support
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the act of assisting
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informal See national assistance
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of assistance
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English assistence, from Medieval Latin assistentia; assist + -ance
Explanation
If you see a blind man having trouble crossing the street, offer him some assistance. Lending a hand is just one way of providing assistance. Assistance is a noun that means to help or aid. It's the noun form for the verb to assist. Homes for the elderly are sometimes called "assisted living facilities" because they provide assistance to older folks who might need assistance getting in and out of bed, or feeding themselves. If you're in a store and no one is helping you, call a manager and ask for assistance. However, if you like to shop, you probably won't need any assistance spending money.
Vocabulary lists containing assistance
List 5
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List 3
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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.
He continued: "I'd like to thank those survivors who came forward to us and reported what happened to them. Their cooperation and assistance has been instrumental in ensuring this conviction."
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, led by General Commissioner Ali Abdul Hamid Shaath, is expected to govern Gaza with assistance from an international force and control these warehouses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Germany committed €11.5 billion for 2026, prioritizing IRIS-T air defense, drones and artillery, while Norway’s assistance for 2026 is worth about $8 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The International Maritime Organization told AFP it was "currently offering assistance to Oman", without providing further details on the incident.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Although he'd attempted to get assistance from an experienced trial lawyer, no one was willing to help represent Guiteau.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
