help
HEH-uup
Help (verb) means to provide assistance to someone or something. Example: “Can you help me carry these boxes?”
verb
1
To provide assistance to someone or something.
"Can you help me carry these boxes?"
"The medicine helped reduce his fever."
"Could you help my grandmother cross the busy road, please?"
2
To avoid or refrain from (usually with "can't").
"She couldn't help laughing at the joke."
"He couldn't help smiling when he saw the puppy."
"I can't help worrying whenever she drives home late at night."
noun
1
Assistance or aid given to accomplish something.
"Thanks for your help moving the furniture."
"She offered help to the new employee on her first day."
"I could not have finished the project without your help."
intj
1
A cry used to call for urgent assistance.
""Help!" he shouted as the current pulled him under."
""Help!" she cried when she saw smoke coming from the kitchen."
"A child shouted "Help!" from the top of the climbing frame, and his father ran over."
How to use help
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo assist someone, or the assistance itself.
Common mistake
"Can't help but" and "can't help doing" are both correct: "I can't help but laugh" and "I can't help laughing."
Common pairings
help out
ask for help
help with something
call for help
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Word forms
- Plural
- helps
- Third person singular
- helps
- Past tense
- helped, holp, holpen
- Archaic forms
- helpest, helpedst, helpeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ me carry these boxes?
Etymology
From Old English help, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to help."
Synonyms
View more →
assistance
a hand
backing
guidance
relief
assist
serve
facilitate
aid
avail
come to the aid of
help out
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for help
See all rhymes for help →Frequently asked questions
What does “help” mean?
The word “help” means assistance or aid given to accomplish something. In plain terms, to assist someone, or the assistance itself.
How do you pronounce “help”?
“Help” is pronounced HEH-uup (/ˈhɛlp/ in IPA).
How do you use “help” in a sentence?
Here is “help” used in a sentence: “Thanks for your help moving the furniture.”
What is another word for “help”?
Words with a similar meaning to “help” include aid, assist, come to the aid of, help out, abet and befriend.
What is the opposite of “help”?
The opposite of “help” — its antonyms — are hinder and hurt.
What part of speech is “help”?
Depending on how it is used, “help” can be a noun, a verb and an intj.
Where does the word “help” come from?
The word “help” comes from Old English. From Old English help, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to help.".
Is “help” a common word?
“Help” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'help' and 'aid'?
Both mean assistance, and they often swap freely. 'Help' is the everyday word for support of any kind — 'thanks for your help.' 'Aid' sounds slightly more formal and often refers to organised or official assistance, such as foreign aid or first aid. In casual speech, 'help' is far more common.
Is 'help' a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun it names the assistance itself — 'I need some help.' As a verb it describes the act of assisting — 'can you help me?' Here the noun sense is meant: the aid given to get something done, rather than the action of giving it.
What is an example of 'help' as a noun?
'She offered her help with the moving boxes' uses 'help' as the assistance she gives. Other examples include 'the map was a big help' and 'he came to my help.' In each, 'help' names the support provided rather than the act of providing it.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing help in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
A massive study suggests a few daily cups of coffee could help protect the liver from scarring, cancer, and disease-related death.
From
ScienceDaily · Jul 25, 2026
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