Synonyms

helper

American

[hel-per] / ˈhɛl pər /

noun

a person or thing that helps or gives assistance, support, etc.

Synonyms:

ally, auxiliary, backer, supporter, assistant, aid
an extra locomotive attached to a train at the front, middle, or rear, especially to provide extra power for climbing a steep grade.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

helpers

plural

Etymology

Origin of helper

First recorded in 1250–1300; help + -er ¹

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.

Health Helper: Microsoft is betting on healthcare as a path to become more competitive in AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

When it is feared that Santa’s Little Helper might have died and gone to doggie heaven, Marge pales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Helper T cells, which act as the immune system's conductors -- detecting health threats, activating other immune cells and sustaining the immune responses over time -- play a central coordinating role.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

General Mills introduced Hamburger Helper in 1971 to offer working mothers a convenient, budget-conscious way to feed a family with minimum effort.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2025

“All they know how to fix here is watery mashed potatoes and something so bad Hamburger Helper done give up on it.”

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023