as ‧ sist ‧ ance S3 W2 AC /əˈsɪst ə ns/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ assistance , ↑ assistant ; verb : ↑ assist ]
help or support:
We offer financial assistance to students.
Can I be of any assistance (=can I help you) ?
with the assistance of somebody/something
We’ve rebuilt the theatre with the assistance of the National Lottery.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ need assistance
Phone this number if you need any assistance.
▪ get/receive assistance
She got no assistance from her family.
▪ seek assistance
If side-effects are severe, seek medical assistance.
▪ give (somebody) assistance
Our staff can give assistance with any problems that may arise.
▪ offer assistance
I would be grateful for any assistance you can offer.
▪ provide assistance
There is no doubt that the US will provide assistance.
▪ pledge/promise assistance
A group of donors led by the World Bank promised assistance to the value of US$508,000,000.
▪ ask for/request assistance
Police are at the scene and have requested assistance.
■ adjectives
▪ financial assistance
The company may also provide financial assistance.
▪ economic assistance
humanitarian aid and other forms of economic assistance
▪ technical assistance
Most of our time is spent providing technical assistance to companies.
▪ legal/medical assistance
It was difficult to get good legal assistance.
▪ military assistance
Beijing renewed its military assistance to North Korea.
■ phrases
▪ be of assistance (=help)
‘How can I be of assistance to you?’ she asked.
▪ come to sb’s assistance (=help someone)
One of her fellow passengers came to her assistance.
▪ turn to somebody for assistance (=ask them to help)
The elderly sometimes have no one to turn to for assistance.
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THESAURUS
▪ help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something:
Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.
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The book would never have been finished without his help.
▪ assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help , and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
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The project received financial assistance from the government.
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Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
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He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
▪ aid help. Aid is more formal than help , and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation:
Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.
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The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
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Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
▪ support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
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We could not have won the case without your support.
▪ cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
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The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
▪ backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.