Assist — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ə-ˈsist/ as·sist

Meaning & Definition of Assist

Assist (verb)

  1. to give usually supplementary support or aid to
  2. to give support or aid
  3. to be present as a spectator

Assist (noun)

  1. an act or action that helps someone, an act of assistance
  2. the action (such as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout (as in baseball) or score a goal (as in basketball or hockey); also, official credit given for such an action
  3. a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance

Assist (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act or instance of helping

    "with an assist from his dad, the youngster built a doghouse any canine would be proud to call home"

    similar: abetment, aid, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support
    related: advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance, benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship, advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring, attendance, attention, hand-holding, service, beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy, assuagement, palliation, relief, succor
    opposite: hindrance
    near: constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement

Assist (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end

    "you can assist families in need by donating old clothes in good condition"

    similar: abet, aid, back, backstop, help, prop (up), support, bear a hand, to stand one in good stead
    related: advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch, champion, endorse, patronize, promote, sponsor, attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor, sustain, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce, advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture, bail out, deliver, rescue, save, embolden, encourage, hearten, benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve
    opposite: hinder
    near: balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle, baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert, disappoint, fail, let down, discourage, dishearten, repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt, damage, harm, hurt, injure

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Assist

The most common words with a similar meaning to Assist:

abetment, aid, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support, abet, back, backstop, prop (up), bear a hand, to stand one in good stead

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Assist

Words with the opposite meaning of Assist:

hindrance, hinder

Related Words for Assist

advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance, benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship, advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring, attendance, attention, hand-holding, service, beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy, assuagement, palliation, relief, succor, advance

Near Antonyms of Assist

constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement, balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle, baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert

Word Forms of Assist

Inflections: assisted, assisting, assists

Origin & Etymology of Assist

Middle English assisten "to help, aid, give aid (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French assister (Middle French also "to be present near, stand near" [with a "to"]), borrowed from Latin assistō, assistere "to take up a position near, stand by, stand by as a supporter or advocate," from ad- ad- (assimilated to as-) + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt," going back to Indo-European *sti-sth2-e-, reduplicated present formation from the base *steh2- "set up (in a place), take a position," whence also Old Irish ˑsissedar (in arˑsissedar "[s/he] stays, stands fast"), Greek hístēmi, histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístamai, hístasthai "to take up a position, come and stand," Sanskrit tíṣṭhati "(s/he) takes a position, stands," Avestan hištaṇti "(they) take a position" stand:1

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Assist

Words & Phrases Containing Assist

ventricular assist device, with an assist from

Frequently Asked Questions about Assist

What does "Assist" mean?

"Assist" means to give usually supplementary support or aid to. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to give usually supplementary support or aid to. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Assist"?

Other words for "Assist" include abetment, aid, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help and helping hand. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Assist" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Assist"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Assist". Common alternatives include abetment, aid, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help, helping hand, leg up and lift.

What is the opposite of "Assist"?

Antonyms of "Assist" include hindrance and hinder. Near antonyms include constraint, frustration, inhibition and interference.

How do you use "Assist" in a sentence?

Examples of "Assist" in a sentence: "with an assist from his dad, the youngster built a doghouse any canine would be proud to call home"; "you can assist families in need by donating old clothes in good condition".

Is "Assist" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Assist" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Assist" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Assist" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Assist"?

"Assist" is pronounced /ə-ˈsist/ and divided into syllables as as·sist.