helplessly

Everyday

1. Without being able to help yourself or do anything about a situation. tree →
2. Without being able to stop, as in «laughed helplessly». tree →

In the lessons

Common in stories: a character watches helplessly as something goes wrong, or laughs helplessly at a joke. It shows that someone has no power in a moment, which builds tension or sympathy.

Examples

• We watched helplessly as the balloon floated away. tree →
• The kitten mewed helplessly at the top of the tree. tree →
• Toad struggled helplessly in the water. tree →
• The children laughed helplessly at the clown. tree →
• Alice cried helplessly in the Pool of Tears. tree →
• The boat drifted helplessly towards the weir. tree →
• “I can’t either,” cried Pinocchio; and his laughter turned to tears as he stumbled about helplessly. tree →

Note

Adverb from «helpless» (help + less = without help). Noun: helplessness. «Laughed helplessly» means could not stop laughing, not that they were sad.