I. as ‧ sist 1 S3 W3 AC /əˈsɪst/ BrE AmE verb formal
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ assistance , ↑ assistant ; verb : ↑ assist ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: assister 'to be present, help' , from Latin assistere , from ad- 'to' + sistere 'to cause to stand' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to help someone to do something
assist (somebody) with/in something
You will be employed to assist in the development of new equipment.
► Do not say ‘assist someone to do something’. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something : The teacher assists the children with their tasks. | someone who can assist them in planning their careers
2 . [transitive] to make it easier for someone to do something:
They had no maps to assist them.
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In everyday English, people usually say help rather than assist :
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We’ll help in any way we can.
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They have special software to help them process invoices.
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THESAURUS
▪ help to make it easier for someone to do something, by doing something for them or giving them something they need:
Is there anything I can do to help?
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Dad, I can’t do my homework. Will you help me?
▪ assist formal to help someone:
He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.
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Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
▪ aid formal to help someone to do something – used especially when saying that something helps your body to do something:
Coffee can aid concentration.
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Fennel aids the digestion.
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There are plenty of materials to aid the teacher.
▪ help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them something:
Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
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My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.
▪ give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting things:
Can you give me a hand moving these boxes?
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Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.
▪ lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something:
Scott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.
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I went over to see if I could lend a hand.
II. assist 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
an action that helps another player on your sports team to make a point