aid
15 synonyms and 0 antonyms for aid, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To help or support someone, or to make something easier.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use aid
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French aidier, aider, from Latin adiutare, "to assist repeatedly."
Full origin of aid →Frequently asked questions
What does “aid” mean?
The word “aid” means to help or support someone, or to make something easier. In plain terms, to help, or the help itself — used for everything from first aid to foreign aid.
How do you pronounce “aid”?
“Aid” is pronounced ayd (/eɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “aid” in a sentence?
Here is “aid” used in a sentence: “Volunteers arrived to aid the flood victims.”
What is another word for “aid”?
Words with a similar meaning to “aid” include assist, befriend, bestand, cooperate, help and promote.
What part of speech is “aid”?
Depending on how it is used, “aid” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “aid” come from?
The word “aid” comes from Latin. From Old French aidier, aider, from Latin adiutare, "to assist repeatedly.".
Is “aid” a common word?
“Aid” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “aid” have?
“Aid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to help or support someone, or to make something easier.
What is the difference between aid and aide?
Aid, spelled without an e, means to help or the help itself — foreign aid, first aid, or aiding a friend. An aide, with an e, is a person who assists someone, such as a nurse's aide or a political aide. One is help; the other is a helper.
Is aid a verb or a noun?
It can be both. Here it works as a verb meaning to help or support, as in 'volunteers aided the survivors.' Aid is equally common as a noun meaning assistance or the resources given, as in humanitarian aid, financial aid, or a hearing aid.
What is an example of aid used in a sentence?
You might say, 'Good lighting aids concentration,' or 'Neighbours aided the family after the fire.' In each case, to aid is to help someone or to make a task, process, or condition easier and more achievable than it would otherwise be.
What is the opposite of aid?
To aid is to help, so its opposites are to hinder, obstruct, hamper, or block — actively making something harder rather than easier. Where aiding smooths the way for a person or task, hindering puts obstacles in the path and holds progress back.