assist

[uh-sist]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

C15: from French assister to be present, from Latin assistere to stand by, from sistere to cause to stand, from stāre to stand

Synonym Study

See help.

Example Sentences

Peers have been given an extra 10 days to scrutinise the assisted dying bill, after a record number of amendments prompted concerns it would run out of time to be passed into law.

Read more on BBC

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said government departments were assisting residents affected by the fire.

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They can assist by doing some of the sorting out, plus they typically have firsthand experience traveling different lines, which means they can match your tastes to specific lines and even specific ships.

Read more on MarketWatch

Reaves added 31 points and nine rebounds, and James scored a season-high 25 points and six assists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There have certainly been no regrets about moving to Germany, though, and after an impressive first season Olise appears to be hitting new heights this term, with nine goals and 10 assists from 18 games.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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