help
/hɛlp/ verb A1- To provide assistance to (someone or something). · He helped his grandfather cook breakfast.
- To assist (a person) in getting something, especially food or drink at table; used with to. · It is polite to help your guests to food before serving yourself.· Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge.
- To contribute in some way to. · The white paint on the walls helps make the room look brighter.· If you want to get a job, it helps to have some prior experience.
- To provide assistance. · She was struggling with the groceries, so I offered to help.· Please, help!
- To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can. · We couldn’t help noticing that you were late.· We couldn’t help but notice that you were late.
- To do something on the behalf of someone. · Can you help me buy some groceries?
- To assist or sympathize with (the speaker); used to express displeasure, disappointment or exasperation. · Compare Malay tolong (“help; please”) and Hokkien 導郎 /导郎 (tō͘-lông, “help; please”)· Help lah.
Plural help · He/she/it helps · Past helped · Past participle helped · -ing form helping
Verb forms
- Base form
- help
- He/she/it
- helps
- Past
- helped
- Past participle
- helped
- -ing form
- helping
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
This worried Dorothy a little, but she knew that only the Great Oz could help her get to Kansas again, so she bravely resolved not to turn back.
Dorothy went to get him, and saw such delicious fruit hanging from the branches that she gathered some of it, finding it just what she wanted to help out her breakfast.
Then she went back to the house, and having helped herself and Toto to a good drink of the cool, clear water, she set about making ready for the journey to the City of Emeralds.
Perhaps Oz will help you.”
Other matches
Learn help in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.