assistance
Americannoun
-
assistance
plural
noun
-
help; support
-
the act of assisting
-
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.
"If climate finance assistance can be made available for the maritime islands, it will be easy for us to get help," Lisati said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Officers will continue to monitor all e-gates and offer assistance, while passengers should keep their passport with them at all times, the Home Office said.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
By building those skills over the first year after childbirth, the team hoped patients would eventually feel confident arranging appointments, seeking primary care, and navigating the healthcare system without additional assistance.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
Historically, candidates focused on policies like down-payment assistance that can make buying a house more affordable, but today, more 20- and 30-somethings are staring down at years or even decades of renting.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
Pocahontas, her husband John Rolfe, and their son Thomas, were taken to England by Sir Thomas Dale to promote the James Town colony and help Dale get financial assistance.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
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.
