Word family noun help helper helpfulness ≠ unhelpfulness helping helplessness adjective helpful ≠ unhelpful helpless verb help adverb helpfully ≠ unhelpfully helplessly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhelphelp1 /help/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]HELP to make it possible or easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work or by giving them something they need If there’s anything I can do to help, just give me a call.help somebody (to) do something I helped her to carry her cases up the stairs. She helped him choose some new clothes. herbal products that help you to relax and sleephelp (to) do something She was coming to help clean the machines.help somebody with something Can I help you with the washing up? My father said he’s going to help me with the fees.help somebody on/off with something (=help someone put on or take off a piece of clothing) Here, let me help you on with your coat.help somebody somewhere (=help someone get to a particular place, especially because they are old, ill, or hurt) She helped the old man across the road.2 [intransitive, transitive]IMPROVE to make a situation better, easier, or less painful Crying won’t help. If you get rid of your car you could be helping the environment. It helps my concentration if I listen to music while I’m working. It helped a lot to know that someone understood how I felt. Eight hours of deep sleep helped enormously.3 → help yourself (to something)4 → help!5 → somebody can’t help (doing) something6 → I couldn’t help myself/she couldn’t help herself etc7 → it can’t be helped8 → somebody is helping the police with their enquiries9 → a helping hand10 → not if I can help it11 → God help him/them etc12 → so help me (God)THESAURUShelp to make it easier for someone to do something, by doing something for them or giving them something they needIs there anything I can do to help?Dad, I can’t do my homework. Will you help me?assist formal to help someone He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.aid formal to help someone to do something – used especially when saying that something helps your body to do somethingCoffee can aid concentration. Fennel aids the digestion.There are plenty of materials to aid the teacher.help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them somethingOrganizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting thingsCan you give me a hand moving these boxes?Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do somethingScott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.I went over to see if I could lend a hand. → help something ↔ along → help out→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
help• I took a couple of aspirin for my headache, but they didn't help.• But does Bush ever haul out the millionaire investment banker or oil baron to show whom he will be helping?• He was banking on at least $ 675 million in savings initiated by New York state to help.• Crying's not going to help.• Warren offered to help clean up the house after the party.• The plan was intended to help development in rural areas.• The company said it is holding shares to help finance possible acquisitions in the future.• "Did you enjoy the trip?" asked Jack, helping her out of the boat.• Her uncle said he would help her to find a job.• Spending time in Spain should help improve her Spanish.• I'm ready to help. Is there something for me to do?• Another crew chief from the ship behind us helped Leese with his straps.• Help me lift this, will you?• Dad, I don't understand my homework. Will you help me?• The union thus helps people develop a greater sense of money management.• The money will be used to help starving children around the world.• The warm weather this spring has certainly helped the farmers.• And that could help to bring an early end to the recession for the traders.• Part of the assistant's job is to help to organize conferences and keep the director informed.• She had helped to prepare the table.• It is hoped that the tax increases will help to stabilize the economy.• The latest report should help us to evaluate the true benefits of the program.• All this arguing isn't going to help us win the election.• Dan's mother has been great about helping with the kids.• Do you want me to help you with those bags?help somebody on/off with something• As soon as Michele had gone the housekeeper began to help Luce off with her clothes.• Herta kept her head down as I helped her off with her coat.• As he helped him off with the heavy grey sheepskin-lined coat he said, ` My!• Find a good nanny and then help her get on with the job of looking after your children.• Here now, let me help ye off with yer coat and hat.• Let me help you on with your coat.helped enormously• Eight hours of deep, dreamless sleep had helped enormously.• Having a natural balance and loose, elastic movement has helped enormously.• Bangor finally shook themselves to run in three tries, helped enormously by some comical Collegians defending.• They would be helped enormously if other agencies of enlightenment, particularly the schooling system, contributed to the task.• Sessions said information he receives from reference checks has helped enormously in cases he has filed against employers. help!help!spokenHELP used to call people and ask them to help you when you are in danger → helphelphelp2 ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 [uncountable]HELP things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something Thank you for all your help.help with something/with doing something Do you want any help with the washing up?help to do something I could do with some help to bring the bags in from the car.help (in) doing something He asked for my help in getting an interview with her.with the help of somebody/with somebody’s help We manage, with the help of a nurse who comes daily.2 [singular, uncountable]HELP if someone or something is a help to you, they are useful and make it easier for you to do something That map isn’t much help.with the help of something I managed to make myself understood with the help of a phrase book.be of great/little/no/some etc help (to somebody) Let me know if I can be of any help to you.be a (great/big/tremendous/real etc) help (to somebody) Any information would be a great help. You’ve been a real help to me, Carrie.3 [uncountable]HELP advice, treatment, information, or money which is given to people who need it A lot of these children need professional help.help with You may be able to ask for help with the rent. We received no help from the police.4 [uncountable] a part of a computer program that helps someone using it by giving additional information5 → the helpCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do somethingverbsgive somebody helpDo you want me to give you some help?ask (somebody) for helpHe asked for help with the cleaning.need helpSome of the older patients need help with walking.get/receive helpShe gets no help from her husband.offer (your) helpThe taxi driver offered his help and we accepted.provide helpThe government should do more to provide help for people who are looking for work.appeal for help (=publicly ask for help)The police are appealing for help to track down the killer.enlist somebody’s help (=persuade someone to help you)She enlisted the help of a private investigator to find her missing son.find helpTo get it finished by tomorrow, we’ll need to find help from somewhere. THESAURUShelp the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do somethingNow that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.The book would never have been finished without his help.assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official helpThe police are asking the public for their assistance.The project received financial assistance from the government.Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.aid help. Aid is more formal than help, and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situationAid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.Another driver stopped and came to his aid.support help and encouragementThanks to everyone who gave us their support.We could not have won the case without your support.cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do thisa spirit of international cooperationThe cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need helpThe officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: advice, treatment, information, or money which is given to people who need itadjectivesfinancial helpWe received a lot of financial help from my family.professional helpYou need to seek some professional help.medical helpShe needs urgent medical help.legal helpYou can find free legal help for your problem by logging onto our website.technical helpI might need some technical help understanding the instructions.practical helpThe organization offers practical help with finding accommodation.expert helpIf the issues are complex, expert help can be sought from the adoption agency.verbsget/receive help from somebodyYou will be able to get confidential help from your doctor.give (somebody) helpThe fund was set up to give financial help to war veterans.provide helpIf you have to move, we provide financial help towards the cost.offer helpWe offer free help for people with debts.seek help (=ask for help)He decided to seek medical help for his drink problem. Examples from the Corpus
help• Children can compete for the parent's favour and help, which obscures the real cause of the argument.• If I need any help I'll call you.• I'm having trouble paying the rent, but I don't want to ask my parents for help.• a plea for help• You go get help - I'll wait here with the car.• It's hard to get good help these days.• Henry went to see if help was needed.• Then, with the right attitude and a little help from your friends you are ready.• We managed to buy the house with a little help from Dave's parents.• Nestor made them heartily welcome, but about the object of their coming he could give them little help.• I don't think I can be much help to you, to be honest.• Kelly hasn't been much help either.• And the descriptions of the two men have been too varied to give much help to detectives.• Would you like some help with those suitcases?• She enlists the help of psychiatrist / author Sigourney Weaver, an expert on serial killers.• With the help of a nicotine patch she was able to quit smoking.• I really want to thank you for all your help.help with something/with doing something• Do you need some help with the stroller?be a (great/big/tremendous/real etc) help (to somebody)• Two locals, one aged 19, the other in his early 20s, were arrested and were helping inquiries last night.• He is helping to focus debate and to underline the dissatisfaction with the Republican field.• I thought I was helping, but I just want to throw the coffee out of the window.• It was a help when I received letters.• Obstacles to integration Three disabled students are helping Barnados research the move from special to mainstream education.• But my wife was a big help.From Longman Business Dictionaryhelphelp /help/ noun [uncountable] HUMAN RESOURCESpeople that organizations employ, especially for a short timeSYNtemp BrETo meet increased demand, companies have hired temporary help.Origin help1 Old English helpan 