assist

The word “assist” means to help someone do something. In plain terms, to help someone, or (in sports) a play that sets up a teammate's score.

“Assist” is pronounced uh-SIHST (/əˈsɪst/ in IPA).

Here is “assist” used in a sentence: “A volunteer assisted the elderly man across the street.”

Words with a similar meaning to “assist” include chip in, help, help out, muck in and pitch in.

The opposite of “assist” — its antonyms — are hinder and hurt.

Depending on how it is used, “assist” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “assist” comes from Latin. From Old French assister, from Latin assistere ("to stand by"), from ad- plus sistere ("to stand, cause to stand").

“Assist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

The two are close synonyms, and in most sentences you can swap one for the other. 'Assist' is slightly more formal and often suggests playing a supporting role while someone else leads the task. 'Help' is the everyday, all-purpose word and can cover anything from a small favour to major aid.

Assist leans formal. It's common in professional, technical, and workplace settings, such as 'assist the manager' or 'assist with the investigation,' where it sounds precise and businesslike. In casual conversation most people simply say 'help,' which feels warmer and less official while carrying the same basic meaning.

You might say, 'A nurse assisted the surgeon during the operation,' or 'New staff will assist customers at the checkout.' In sport, 'assist' is also a noun, a pass that directly leads to a teammate scoring. In each case, it means supporting someone in getting something done.