INDEX:
1. to help someone
2. to help someone by making them feel more confident and less worried
3. to help something to happen
4. ways of saying that something helps you to do something
5. someone who helps another person to do something
6. help that is given
7. words for describing someone who is helpful
8. words for describing someone or something that is not helpful
9. having no one to help you
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER
↑ SUPPORT
↑ ADVISE
↑ ADVANTAGE
↑ DISADVANTAGE
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1. to help someone
▷ help /help/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to make it easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work, showing them what to do, or giving them something they need :
▪ I’m ready to help. Is there something for me to do?
▪ Dad, I don’t understand my homework. Will you help me?
▪ The money will be used to help starving children around the world.
help with
▪ Dan’s mother has been great about helping with the kids.
help do something
▪ Warren offered to help clean up the house after the party.
help to do something
▪ Part of the assistant’s job is to help to organize conferences and keep the director informed.
help somebody do something
▪ Help me lift this, will you?
help somebody to do something
▪ Her uncle said he would help her to find a job.
help somebody with something
▪ Do you want me to help you with those bags?
help somebody into/off/across/down etc
help someone go somewhere
▪ ‘Did you enjoy the trip?’ asked Jack, helping her out of the boat.
▷ give/lend a hand /ˌgɪv, ˌlend ə ˈhænd/ [verb phrase] informal
to help someone do something, especially something they have to do in their home such as carrying or lifting things :
▪ Scott is moving Saturday and I promised to lend a hand.
give/lend somebody a hand
▪ Give me a hand and let’s see if we can get this box in the car.
give/lend a hand with
▪ Could you give me a hand with the shopping.
▷ assist /əˈsɪst/ [intransitive/transitive verb] formal
to help someone do something, especially by doing all the easier or less important things for them so that their job is easier :
▪ Can you do the job alone, or do you want someone to assist you?
assist in
▪ In this position, you will assist in training new employees.
assist with
▪ Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
assist somebody in/with something
▪ A consultant has been brought in to assist management in restructuring the company.
▷ do something for /ˈduː something fɔːʳ/ [verb phrase]
to help someone by doing something for them that they would normally do themselves :
▪ If you’re not feeling well, I’ll do the shopping for you.
▪ Did you have someone do your homework for you? It doesn’t look like your writing.
▷ do somebody a favour British /favor American /ˌduː somebody ə ˈfeɪvəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to do something to help someone, especially a friend or someone you know well :
▪ Could you do me a favour and mail these letters for me?
▪ She’s always doing favours for us. The least we can do is help her out now.
do somebody a big favour/favor
help someone a lot
▪ They did us a big favor by letting us stay there, you know.
▷ help out /ˌhelp ˈaʊt/ [intransitive/transitive phrasal verb]
to help someone do something, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work :
▪ Their son used to help out in the shop when it was busy.
▪ Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
help out with
▪ The kids are always good about helping out with the chores.
help somebody out
▪ While I’m gone, try to help your Mom out, OK?
help out somebody
▪ No need to thank me - I was just glad to help out a friend.
▷ do somebody a good turn /ˌduː somebody ə ˌgʊd ˈtɜːʳn/ [verb phrase]
to help someone by doing something for them that they have not asked you to do, because you think they need your help and you want to help them :
▪ She’s always happy to do a stranger a good turn.
▪ He did me a good turn when he advised me not to sell my house - it’s worth twice as much now.
▷ do your bit British /do your part American /ˌduː jɔːʳ ˈbɪt, ˌduː jɔːʳ ˈpɑːʳt/ [verb phrase]
to do what you can to help in a bad or difficult situation, especially because you think you are expected to do it or that it is your duty :
▪ I’ve done my bit - now it’s up to you.
do your bit for
▪ Brown feels that she’s done her part for the Democratic Party.
▷ come to somebody’s aid/assistance /ˌkʌm tə somebodyˈs ˈeɪd, əˈsɪst ə ns/ [verb phrase] formal
to offer to help someone who is in difficulty and who will not be able to continue without your help :
▪ It took an ambulance 27 minutes to come to the aid of the accident victims.
▪ Many expect the central government to come to the assistance of the ailing industry.
▷ give help/assistance/support /gɪv ˈhelp, əˈsɪst ə ns, səˈpɔːʳt/ [verb phrase]
to help a person or group :
give help/assistance/support to
▪ The program gives assistance to unemployed mothers and their children.
give somebody help/assistance/support
▪ My family gave me very little support when I decided to go back to college.
▪ Any kind of help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
2. to help someone by making them feel more confident and less worried
▷ encourage /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒǁɪnˈkɜːr-/ [transitive verb]
to say or do things that help someone feel confident enough to do something, for example by telling them they are good enough to do it, by giving them advice etc :
▪ She was always looking for ways to encourage her students.
encourage somebody to do something
▪ I would never have won if my friends hadn’t encouraged me to keep trying.
▷ be supportive /biː səˈpɔːʳtɪv/ [verb phrase]
to make someone feel less worried and more confident by talking to them in a sympathetic way and giving them practical help :
▪ It was a difficult decision, but my family was very supportive.
be supportive of
▪ My husband has always been very supportive of everything that I do.
▷ support /səˈpɔːʳt/ [transitive verb]
to help someone by being sympathetic and kind to them during a difficult time in their life :
▪ She is my daughter, and I will love and support her no matter what happens.
▪ I am very grateful to members of the faculty who have supported me in so many ways.
support [uncountable noun]
sympathetic encouragement and help that you give to someone: :
▪ He was grateful for his friends’ support during his divorce.
support of
▪ I would not have been able to finish writing the book without the support of my husband and family.
▷ give somebody moral support /ˌgɪv somebody ˌmɒrəl səˈpɔːʳtǁ-ˌmɔː-/ [verb phrase]
to help someone, especially someone who is in a difficult situation, by telling them that they are right in what they are doing, and encouraging them to be brave, confident, etc :
▪ She was very nervous about the interview, so I went along to give her some moral support.
▪ The US is giving the rebel leaders moral support, but so far no weapons.
3. to help something to happen
▷ help /help/ [transitive verb]
to help something such as an improvement to happen :
▪ The plan was intended to help development in rural areas.
help do something
▪ Spending time in Spain should help improve her Spanish.
help to do something
▪ It is hoped that the tax increases will help to stabilize the economy.
▷ encourage /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒǁɪnˈkɜːr-/ [transitive verb]
to make something more likely to happen or make people more likely to do something, often something that you think they should not do :
▪ Congress is considering tax breaks to encourage investment.
▪ Damp conditions encourage the growth of the fungus.
encourage somebody to do something
▪ Cigarette machines in the streets will only encourage more teenagers to smoke.
▷ promote /prəˈməʊt/ [transitive verb] formal
promote good relations/cooperation/trade etc
to help something good to happen or to develop and increase :
▪ The aim of the meeting is to promote trade between the two countries.
▪ A balanced diet promotes good health and normal development.
promotion /prəˈməʊʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Government policies have focussed on the promotion of economic growth.
▷ aid /eɪd/ [transitive verb] formal
to help something get better, develop, grow etc :
▪ The country’s economic recovery has been aided by increased international trade.
▪ The large number of Latino voters aided Garcia’s victory in the last election.
▷ benefit /ˈbenɪfɪt, ˈbenəfɪt/ [transitive verb]
to give advantages to someone or something, so that something can improve :
▪ Critics argue that the tax cuts will only benefit large companies.
▪ Admission is $5, with proceeds benefiting a local children’s charity.
▷ advance/further /ədˈvɑːnsǁədˈvæns, ˈfɜːʳðəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to help something you are trying to do to be successful :
▪ Separatist rebels have used terrorism to advance their cause in the region.
▪ The associations allow professionals to band together to further their interests.
▷ be conducive to /biː kənˈdjuːsɪv tuːǁ-ˈduː-/ [verb phrase] formal
if a situation is conducive to something such as work, rest etc, it provides the conditions that make it easier :
▪ All this noise is hardly conducive to rest and relaxation.
▪ We want to create an atmosphere conducive to serious discussion.
▷ give something a boost /ˌgɪv something ə ˈbuːst/ [verb phrase]
to help something such as a business so that it suddenly begins to develop more quickly :
▪ The recent drop in interest rates has given the economy a much needed boost.
give sth a boost to
▪ The central government also privatized farmland, giving a boost to food production.
▷ be favourable for/to British /be favorable for/to American /biː ˈfeɪv ə rəb ə l fɔːʳ, tuː/ [verb phrase] written
if conditions are favourable for or to something such as an agreement or an improvement in a situation, they make it more likely to happen :
▪ The conditions are now favorable for job creation and economic growth.
▪ The conference has produced a political climate that is favourable to a peace settlement.
4. ways of saying that something helps you to do something
▷ help /help/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to make it easier for someone to do something or to make a difficult situation easier :
▪ I took a couple of aspirin for my headache, but they didn’t help.
▪ The warm weather this spring has certainly helped the farmers.
help somebody do something
▪ All this arguing isn’t going to help us win the election.
help somebody to do something
▪ The latest report should help us to evaluate the true benefits of the program.
▷ assist /əˈsɪst/ [intransitive/transitive verb] formal
to help someone do something :
▪ They have developed a computerized system that will greatly assist all library users.
assist somebody in/with something
▪ The guide is written to assist consumers in choosing the best insurance plan.
▷ aid /eɪd/ [intransitive/transitive verb] formal
to help someone or something achieve something, by making the situation that they are in easier :
▪ The new government grants are intended to aid small businesses.
▪ Our ability to combat organized crime has been aided by our partnership with local police.
aid in
▪ The new equipment has been provided to aid in the diagnosis of liver disorders.
▷ be a help /biː ə ˈhelp/ [verb phrase]
if something is a help, it makes it easier for you to do something, especially something that would be difficult to do without it :
▪ For the teachers, just having more books and equipment would be a help.
be a big/great/real help
▪ Stating your objectives clearly will be a great help in organizing the research.
▷ helpful /ˈhelpf ə l/ [verb phrase]
making it likely to be easier for you to do or achieve something :
▪ If you’re looking for a good guidebook, I found this one to be very helpful.
▪ She gave us some helpful advice about renting apartments.
helpful in
▪ Giving the test can be helpful in deciding the best way to treat a patient.
it is helpful to do something
▪ It’s helpful to prepare a list of questions before going to an interview.
▷ beneficial /ˌbenɪˈfɪʃ ə l◂, ˌbenəˈfɪʃ ə l◂/ [adjective]
actions, experiences, changes etc that are beneficial help to improve someone’s situation or give them an advantage :
▪ The relationship between the two companies has been mutually beneficial.
beneficial to
▪ Recent studies show that moderate amounts of alcohol are beneficial to health.
beneficial effect/impact/result
▪ There is no evidence that the diet pills have any beneficial effect on weight loss.
▷ be a boon /biː ə ˈbuːn/ [verb phrase]
something that is a boon happens or is given to you, especially unexpectedly, and makes it much easier for you to do something :
▪ Having a bicycle was a tremendous boon as our house was so far from the village.
be a boon to/for
▪ The current low exchange rates are a boon for exporters.
▪ Increased competition among airlines will prove to be a boon to tourists.
▷ with the aid of /wɪð ði ˈeɪd ɒv/ [preposition]
if you do something with the aid of something, especially an object, you need that thing to help you do it :
▪ The bacteria can only be seen with the aid of a high power microscope.
▪ Since the accident he’s only been able to walk with the aid of a cane.
5. someone who helps another person to do something
▷ assistant /əˈsɪst ə nt/ [countable noun]
someone who is employed to help someone do their job, especially by doing all the easier or less important things for them so that their job is made easier :
▪ The dentist had her assistant sterilise the instruments.
assistant to
▪ Lydia is the assistant to the Director of Finance.
assistant manager/director/editor etc
▪ Winston got a job as assistant manager at Wal-Mart.
▷ helper /ˈhelpəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who helps someone else to do something, especially when they want to do it and are not paid for it :
▪ Ella works at the hospital once a week as a voluntary helper.
▪ Helpers are needed to run the book stall and man the bar.
▷ aide /eɪd/ [countable noun]
someone who is employed to help a very important person, especially someone in politics or government :
▪ An aide confirmed this week that the President will not be running for re-election.
aide to
▪ Anderson has worked as an aide to the mayor for three years.
▷ aide also aid /eɪd, eɪd/ [countable noun] American
teacher’s aid/nurse’s aid
someone whose job is to help a teacher, nurse etc to do their work, especially by doing the less important jobs :
▪ Amelia went to work as a nurse’s aide in the children’s wing of the hospital.
▪ As a teacher’s aide, I help watch the children and run errands for the teacher.
▷ accomplice /əˈkʌmplɪs, əˈkʌmpləsǁəˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ [countable noun]
someone who helps someone else in a crime :
▪ Evans could not have carried out the robbery without an accomplice.
▪ One man held a gun on her while his accomplice took the money.
accomplice in/to
▪ She has been accused of being an accomplice in the kidnapping.
▷ right-hand man /ˌraɪt hænd ˈmæn/ [countable noun]
the person who someone in a position of authority depends on most to help and support them :
▪ Beria, the head of the KGB, was Stalin’s right-hand man.
▪ Newman’s resignation leaves his boss without a right-hand man.
6. help that is given
▷ help /help/ [uncountable noun]
▪ If I need any help I’ll call you.
▪ I’m having trouble paying the rent, but I don’t want to ask my parents for help.
help with
▪ Would you like some help with those suitcases?
with help from somebody
▪ We managed to buy the house with a little help from Dave’s parents.
with the help of somebody/something
▪ With the help of a nicotine patch she was able to quit smoking.
get help
find someone to help you
▪ You go get help - I’ll wait here with the car.
▷ assistance /əˈsɪst ə ns/ [uncountable noun] formal
something you provide in order to help someone do something :
▪ Patients can usually walk without assistance within a week of the operation.
▪ The federal agency provides assistance to families whose homes were destroyed by flooding.
▪ The company has a toll-free number that offers technical assistance to anyone who needs it.
be of assistance
▪ Our tour guides will be pleased to be of assistance if you have any problems.
▷ a hand /ə ˈhænd/ [singular noun] informal
practical help from someone when something needs to be done :
▪ Everybody needs a hand now and then.
a hand with
▪ I could use a hand with the yard work if you’re not busy.
lend/give somebody a hand
▪ Could you give me a hand moving those boxes?
▷ aid /eɪd/ [uncountable noun]
help, especially money, that an organization or country gives to another country or to people who are in a very difficult situation :
▪ Aid is not getting through to the refugees.
▪ Each year, the U.S. sends more than $1.8 billion in aid to sub-Saharan Africa.
▷ support /səˈpɔːʳt/ [uncountable noun]
equipment, money, or help from other people that is available for you to use when you need it :
▪ I’d like to thank you all for your support in the upcoming election.
▪ Our two company lawyers provide all the legal support we need.
▷ service /ˈsɜːʳvɪs, ˈsɜːʳvəs/ [uncountable noun]
help given to customers of a particular business, by the people who work there :
▪ I thought the service in the pizza place was very good.
provide a service
▪ We knew the shop would never survive if we didn’t provide a good service from the minute we opened the doors.
▷ back-up/backup /ˈbækʌp/ [uncountable noun]
people, equipment etc that are provided to be used if people need help :
▪ This department needs more secretarial and clerical back-up.
▪ Police had to wait for backup to arrive before making any arrests.
▷ encouragement /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒməntǁ-ˈkɜːr-/ [uncountable noun]
something such as praise or advice from other people that helps give someone the confidence and determination to do something :
▪ Children need lots of encouragement when they’re learning new things.
words of encouragement
▪ After his speech, he shook hands and offered words of encouragement to people in the crowd.
by way of encouragement
in order to encourage someone
▪ ‘But you’re doing a great job,’ he added by way of encouragement.
7. words for describing someone who is helpful
▷ helpful /ˈhelpf ə l/ [adjective]
▪ Thanks, Sam. You’ve been very helpful.
▪ A helpful woman at the tourist office gave me some tips on places to visit.
helpfully [adverb]
▪ She explained how the machine worked as helpfully as she could.
▷ be a help /biː ə ˈhelp/ [verb phrase]
if someone is a help, they make it easier for you to do something :
▪ Thanks for looking after the children - you’ve really been a help.
be a big/great/real help
▪ Jim was a big help getting the house ready for the party.
▷ cooperative also co-operative British /kəʊˈɒp ə rətɪvǁ-ˈɑːp-/ [adjective]
someone who is cooperative helps someone who has asked them to help, by working together with them and not causing any problems :
▪ Some of the students are highly cooperative and attentive, but unfortunately, most aren’t.
▪ The suspect has been cooperative with investigators, but he shows little remorse.
▷ obliging /əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/ [adjective] formal
someone who is obliging is always ready to help and enjoys helping people, even people who are unreasonable or difficult :
▪ The shop assistants were very obliging, and brought me at least fifteen pairs of shoes to try on.
obligingly [adverb]
▪ ‘Let me get that,’ he said and obligingly lifted the suitcase into the trunk.
▷ accommodating /əˈkɒmədeɪtɪŋǁəˈkɑː-/ [adjective]
someone who is accommodating is willing to do what someone else wants, even if this is not the best thing for themselves, in order to help them or make them more comfortable :
▪ He was very accommodating, always asking if I needed anything.
▪ She’s so nice and accommodating, I’m afraid people will take advantage of her.
8. words for describing someone or something that is not helpful
▷ not helpful/unhelpful /nɒt ˈhelpf ə l, ʌnˈhelpf ə l/ [adjective]
▪ He bought a book on relaxation techniques but it wasn’t very helpful.
▪ The authorities weren’t helpful at all when Rob reported his passport stolen.
▪ I found the sales assistants most unhelpful.
▷ be no help/not be any help/not be much help /biː ˌnəʊ ˈhelp, ˌnɒt biː eni ˈhelp, ˌnɒt biː mʌtʃ ˈhelp/ [verb phrase]
if something or someone is no help they do not help you do something or get something :
▪ Clarissa was no help - she just sat around and watched TV.
▪ The phrase book wasn’t much help in carrying on a conversation.
▷ uncooperative /ˌʌnkəʊˈɒp ə rətɪvǁ-ˈɑːp-/ [adjective]
not wanting to help someone who wants you to help them, especially by deliberately opposing them or stopping them doing something easily :
▪ Many of the older patients are uncooperative and difficult for the nurses to handle.
▪ Hubbel has been a very uncooperative witness.
▷ useless /ˈjuːsləs/ [adjective] especially spoken
not giving any help - use this when you are annoyed with someone or something because they should help you but they do not :
▪ I tried calling the tax office but they were completely useless.
completely/absolutely useless
▪ There’s no point reading the instructions - they’re completely useless.
▷ not lift a finger /nɒt ˌlɪft ə ˈfɪŋgəʳ/ [verb phrase]
if someone does not lift a finger, they do not help when help is wanted or needed, especially because they are lazy :
▪ She stayed with us for two weeks and never lifted a finger the whole time.
▪ Police knew there would be a fight, but they didn’t lift a finger to try and stop it.
9. having no one to help you
▷ on your own/by yourself /ɒn jɔːr ˈəʊn, baɪ jɔːʳˈself/ [adverb]
if you do something on your own or by yourself you do it without help from anyone else :
▪ Peter cooked everything by himself - he wouldn’t even let me in the kitchen.
▪ I doubt I would have been able to find this job on my own.
all on your own/all by yourself
used to emphasize that you do not have any help
▪ You mean to tell me he painted the whole house all by himself?
▷ helpless /ˈhelpləs/ [adjective]
needing help because you cannot do anything for yourself or you need protection :
▪ Why are you so afraid of a helpless old woman?
▪ Frightened and helpless, Alvin wondered if they might kill him.
utterly helpless
▪ His mother’s death left the boy feeling utterly helpless and alone.
helplessly [adverb]
▪ I started to cry as helplessly as a baby.