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

Donohoe, of the World Bank, said the lender was "well positioned to assist countries in their economic response" and was engaged in "intense" talks with member states.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

At the time, Tavneos was the ChemoCentryx’s only approved drug, and Amgen said it was excited to assist in the launch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

"It will also be interesting to see how this finding may be applied to assist fiber spinning and other applications that use viscous liquids."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Central to determining competency is whether Jeffries understands the charges against him, their consequences, the legal proceedings, and can assist with his own defence.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Mrs. Clarke convinced him to let the Incorrigible children assist, as they were still quite young and were bound to have more insight into what a baby might like than an older person would.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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