helping
Americannoun
-
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:
Its indirect effect probably was greater: It kept U.S. inflation in check during the era of ultralow interest rates, helping Americans, and Washington, borrow and spend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"I love working outside, helping look after the animals," Hawkins says.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
“We also spoke about diplomacy,” Zelensky said in an apparent reference to Trump’s interest in helping Ukraine and Russia reach a peace deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
By helping her gather these documents, you’ll be providing a bit of relief and preventing bad surprises when she’s grieving.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Nicole had the emergency door open and was helping Rashawn through.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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
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
Superstar players, fanatical fans, regular helpings of drama and the sinister side of the game - the Superclasico has it all.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2025
My friend and I nearly had to fight Ben for second helpings, he was so enamored with the dish.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2023
Since the wedding, Mum Olga had been eating Mandy’s cooking, in ever-increasing helpings.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
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.
