- present participle of help.
helping
Americannoun
-
helpings
plural
-
the act of a person or thing that helps.
-
a portion of food served to a person at one time.
That's his third helping of ice cream.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of helping
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; see origin at help, -ing 1, -ing 2
Vocabulary lists containing helping
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.
See Examples For:
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech in late August alleviated some worries the Fed was insufficiently committed to fighting inflation, helping spark the climb in yields.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
"These things are backfiring," he said, adding that "the regulatory environment is obviously not helping Europe or France."
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
It also recently completed its acquisition of the AI startup Cursor, which Horan called “transformative,” helping SpaceX develop its models and generate additional revenue.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
Fernandez adds big-game know-how to City's midfield after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, being named young player of the tournament, and helping his country to a second-straight final in July.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
“This is awesome,” I say, helping Lily sort through the art supplies.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
We bargain with them to eat a bite or two of vegetables before allowing them second helpings of the starchy things they really want.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
Over glasses of tea and helpings of baklava, I ask if he and his family would move back.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025
Those are solid results, considering the funds’ big helpings of bonds—the safety-first shock absorbers that make up a big part of their appeal to cautious investors.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2025
The impact on Washington’s economy — a state that produces 29 billion helpings of potatoes for people globally each year — would be palpable.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024
He eats a good meal at noon, and one in the evening, with two helpings of meat.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
