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.
Millions of Britons face a jump in energy bills from the start of 2027, even after the Labour government offered some assistance in its annual budget announcement last month.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
When they drove toward the “blood-curdling screaming,” they discovered it was a fighting couple, who apparently didn’t need any assistance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
Aspiring homeowners looking at programs offered by their company should read the fine print carefully to see if the home-buying assistance program comes with strings attached.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026
"Our intention throughout has been to provide appropriate support and assistance while remaining fair to all parties and limiting our comments to matters of which we have direct knowledge."
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
The problem was that it is almost impossible nearly everywhere along the AT to get on and off the trail without assistance.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
