assist

Everyday

1. To help someone do something. tree →
2. (sport) A pass that helps a teammate score; the player who passes gets an assist. tree →
3. (formal) «Assist with» or «assist in» a task: take part in helping with it. tree →

In the lessons

Used in school («the teaching assistant will assist you»), safety (staff will assist passengers), and sport reports. Slightly more formal than «help». Phrases: «assist someone with», «assist in», «can I assist you?».

Examples

• Can I assist you with your bags? tree →
• The nurse assisted the doctor. tree →
• He scored one goal and made two assists. tree →
• The firefighters assisted the family out of the house. tree →
• Volunteers will assist with the school fair. tree →
• Please assist anyone who needs help on the stairs. tree →
• My sister assisted me in building the model. tree →
• I will come to you, and assist you. tree →

Note

Regular verb: assisted, assisting. Related nouns: «assistance» (help, uncountable), «assistant» (a helper). Formal; in everyday speech «help» is more common. Do not confuse «assistance» (help) with «assistants» (people who help).

In Jewish tradition

Used in school («the teaching assistant will assist you»), safety (staff will assist passengers), and sport reports. Slightly more formal than «help». Phrases: «assist someone with», «assist in», «can I assist you?».

Examples

• Ginsburg asserts that the system of vowel polluting was invented by a Rabbi Mocha in Palestine about a.d. 570, who designed it to assist his pupils. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Regular verb: assisted, assisting. Related nouns: «assistance» (help, uncountable), «assistant» (a helper). Formal; in everyday speech «help» is more common. Do not confuse «assistance» (help) with «assistants» (people who help).