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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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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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.
Assistance included air purifiers, air conditioners, masks, grocery gift cards, cash assistance offers, temporary relocation and assistance paying utility bills, which rose for many as their electricity needs increased, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Company leaders worked with Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore and paid for firefighter assistance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
A US military task force is working to enhance intelligence-sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces as they face attacks, a US official told AFP on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
Failing managers will be moved, often with the active assistance of NHS England, in a process referred to as rehabilitation, the inquiry heard.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Then I picked up the phone again and dialed directory assistance for the information number of TWA.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
