aid
ayd
Aid (verb) means to help or support someone, or to make something easier. Example: “A good map will aid you if the phone signal drops while hiking.”
verb
1
To help or support someone, or to make something easier.
"A good map will aid you if the phone signal drops while hiking."
"Volunteers arrived to aid the flood victims."
"This app is designed to aid students with their homework."
noun
1
Help, support, or resources given to someone in need.
"The village received emergency aid in the form of food and clean water."
"She walks with the aid of a stick since her operation."
"The charity sends aid to disaster zones every year."
How to use aid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo help, or the help itself — used for everything from first aid to foreign aid.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "aide," a person who assists (a noun only).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
foreign aid
first aid
come to someone's aid
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- aids
- Past tense
- aided
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A good map will _____ you if the phone signal drops while hiking.
Etymology
From Old French aidier, aider, from Latin adiutare, "to assist repeatedly."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for aid
See all rhymes for 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.
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