assistance
Americannoun
noun
-
help; support
-
the act of assisting
-
informal See national assistance
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Raman pushed back on that narrative, saying she provided key assistance to Bass in 2022, helping her defeat real estate developer Rick Caruso.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
A cancer-patient assistance program called Verna’s Purse helped hold storage costs to a few hundred dollars a year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
At dealerships around the country, perks are on the rise for customers who seek assistance in keeping their older vehicles running.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
The Bushehr plant was built and operated with Russian assistance for civilian purposes but was targeted in the war.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
These powerful men managed to keep all federal housing assistance programs out of Durham for a decade and a half.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
