auxiliary
awg-ZIHL-uh-ree
Auxiliary (adjective) means providing extra help or support to something else, rather than being the main part. Example: “The hospital brought in auxiliary staff during the outbreak.”
adjective
1
Providing extra help or support to something else, rather than being the main part.
"The hospital brought in auxiliary staff during the outbreak."
"They kept an auxiliary generator in case the power went out."
"The ship carries an auxiliary engine that starts if the main one fails."
noun
1
A verb, such as "have," "be," or "will," used together with another verb to show tense, mood, or voice.
"In "she has finished," "has" is the auxiliary."
"In "they will arrive soon", the word "will" is an auxiliary."
"English questions often begin with an auxiliary, such as "do" or "can"."
How to use auxiliary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBackup or supporting — something that helps the main thing work, rather than being essential on its own.
Common pairings
auxiliary verb
auxiliary power
auxiliary staff
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The hospital brought in _____ staff during the outbreak.
Etymology
From Latin auxiliarius, "helping," from auxilium, "help, aid," related to augere, "to increase."
Synonyms
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supplementary
supporting
backup
subsidiary
secondary
accessory
appurtenant
adjunct
adjuvant
supplemental
ancillary
aide
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for auxiliary
See all rhymes for auxiliary →Frequently asked questions
What does “auxiliary” mean?
The word “auxiliary” means providing extra help or support to something else, rather than being the main part. In plain terms, backup or supporting — something that helps the main thing work, rather than being essential on its own.
How do you pronounce “auxiliary”?
“Auxiliary” is pronounced awg-ZIHL-uh-ree (/ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “auxiliary” in a sentence?
Here is “auxiliary” used in a sentence: “The hospital brought in auxiliary staff during the outbreak.”
What part of speech is “auxiliary”?
Depending on how it is used, “auxiliary” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “auxiliary” come from?
The word “auxiliary” comes from Latin. From Latin auxiliarius, "helping," from auxilium, "help, aid," related to augere, "to increase.".
Is “auxiliary” a common word?
“Auxiliary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “auxiliary” have?
“Auxiliary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: providing extra help or support to something else, rather than being the main part.
What is an auxiliary verb in grammar?
An auxiliary verb, such as "have," "be," or "will," is used together with another verb to show tense, mood, or voice. For example, in "she has finished," the word "has" is an auxiliary verb supporting the main verb "finished."
What is the difference between auxiliary and modal verbs?
Auxiliary verbs like "be," "have," and "do" support the main verb to form tenses, questions, or negatives, while modal verbs such as "can," "must," and "should" are a specific type of auxiliary that express possibility, necessity, or permission. All modal verbs function as auxiliaries, but not all auxiliaries are modal verbs.
How is auxiliary used outside of grammar?
Outside of grammar, auxiliary describes anything that provides extra help or support to something else rather than being the main part, such as an auxiliary power supply or auxiliary staff.
