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

Minutes after the attack, she was found slumped in a platform shelter by a member of railway staff, who was assisted by a hotel worker.

Read more on BBC

He was assisted by 74-year-old German man who "prepared expert reports specifically to confirm the authenticity of the artworks".

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But he has yet to find the back of the net or register an assist - despite lining up in two additional games in the Premier League.

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Salah was Liverpool's top scorer with 29 goals last season and also contributed 18 assists as they cantered to the Premier League title.

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Reaves, who had 26 points and nine assists against the Warriors, was held out of live play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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