Help Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

... etc. to aid or assist someone; 2 : to make something less severe to make something more pleasant or easier to deal with often followed by to + verb. TheBritannicaDictionary mobilesearch Home AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary × BritannicaHomepage AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary TheBritannicaDictionary help 13ENTRIESFOUND: help(verb) help(noun) helping(noun) helpinghand(noun) helpingverb(noun) helpdesk(noun) homehelp(noun) self–help(noun) god(noun) heaven(noun) lord(noun) police(noun) so(adverb) 1 help /ˈhɛlp/ verb helps; helped; helping 1 help /ˈhɛlp/ verb helps; helped; helping BritannicaDictionarydefinitionofHELP 1  : todosomethingthatmakesiteasierforsomeonetodoajob,todealwithaproblem,etc. : toaidorassistsomeone [+object] Letmehelpyouwiththatbox.=Letmehelpyoulift/carrythatbox. helpachildwithherhomework=helpachild(to)doherhomework Ihelpedherup/downthestairs.[=Igavehersupportsothatshecouldgoup/downthestairs] Helpme!I'mdrowning! [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples [noobject] Don'tblameme:Iwasonlytryingtohelp! Shehelped(to)setthetable. Help!Somebodycallthepolice! [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  : tomakesomethinglesssevere : tomakesomethingmorepleasantoreasiertodealwith [+object] Resthelpsacold. Shetookanaspirintohelpherheadache. Somecolorwouldreallyhelp[=improve]thisroom. Humoroftenhelpsatensesituation. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples [noobject] Yellingdoesn'thelp. It'snotmuchmoney,buteverylittlebithelps. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —oftenfollowedbyto+verb Ithelpstoknowyoucare.[=IfeelbetterbecauseIknowthatyoucare] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  [+object] a  : togive(yourselforanotherperson)foodordrink There'splentyoffood,sohelpyourself.[=takeasmuchfoodasyouwouldlike] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —often+to Hehelpedhisneighbortoaglassofwine. Helpyourselftowhateveryou'dlike. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples b  informal : totakesomethingfor(yourself)withoutpermission Hesawthemoneylyingonthetable,andhehelpedhimself.[=hetookthemoney] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —usually+to Hehelpedhimselftothemoney. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples canhelp ◊Ifyoucanhelpsomething,youcanpreventitfromhappening. CanIhelpit[=isitmyfault]ifnoonelistenstomyadvice? Therewillbenomorelayoffs.AtleastnotifIcanhelpit.[=ifIcanpreventit;ifitisuptome] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples cannothelp 1  ◊Ifyoucannothelpyourself,youcannotcontrolyouractionsorstopyourselffromdoingsomething. IknowIshouldn'teatanymore,butIcan'thelpmyself. Theyknewtheyshouldn'tgo,buttheycouldn'thelpthemselves. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  ◊Ifyoucannothelpsomething,youcannotstopitorpreventit. Ican'thelplovingyou. IknowIshouldn'tbeangry,butIcan'thelpit—it'sjustthewayIfeel. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  ◊Ifyoucannothelpdoingsomethingorcannothelpbutdosomething,youcannotstopyourselffromdoingit. Icouldn'thelphavingsomedessert. Wecouldn'thelplaughing.=Wecouldn'thelpbutlaugh. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 4  ◊Somethingthatcannotbehelpedcannotbeavoided. It'stoobadthatwehavetoleave,butitcan'tbehelped. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples God/Lord/heavenhelp(someone) —usedtoexpressstrongfeelingsofworryorconcernaboutwhatishappeningorcouldhappen Ifheevergetscontrolofthecountry,Lordhelpus! Heavenhelpyou[=youwillbeintrouble]whenhefindsoutyoudentedthecar. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples helpoff/on [phrasalverb] help(someone)off/onwith(something) : todosomethingthatmakesiteasierfor(someone)toputonortakeoff(clothing,shoes,etc.) Letmehelpyouoffwithyourboots. Hehelpedheronwithhercoat. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples helpout [phrasalverb] helpout or help(someone)out or helpout(someone) : todosomethingsoanotherperson'sjobortaskiseasier Ican'tdothismyself.Won'tsomeonepleasehelpmeout? Isometimeshelpoutinthekitchen. Hehelpedoutwiththebillswheneverhecould.[=hehelpedpaythebillswheneverhecould] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples sohelpme(God) —usedtostressthatastatementisseriousandtruthful I'mgoingonadietand,sohelpme,thistimeI'llsticktoit! [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2 help /ˈhɛlp/ noun plural help 2 help /ˈhɛlp/ noun plural help BritannicaDictionarydefinitionofHELP 1  [noncount] a  : activitiesoreffortsthatmakeiteasiertodoajob,dealwithaproblem,etc. Hethankedusforourhelp. Icouldusesomehelpwiththedishes. Wecouldhearshoutsforhelpcomingfromthehouse. ahelpmenu/screen[=apartofacomputerprogramthatgivesinstructionsandinformationabouthowtousetheprogram] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples b  : something(suchasmoneyoradvice)thatisgiventosomeonewhoneedsit Icouldn'thaveboughtthishousewithoutfinancialhelp.[=withoutmoneygiventomebysomeoneelse] Sheisveryunhappyandneedssomeserious/professionalhelp.[=sheshouldseeacounselororpsychologisttohelpherwithherproblems] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  [singular] : someoneorsomethingthatmakesiteasiertodoajob,dealwithaproblem,etc. Shehasalwaysbeenarealhelp(tome)intimesoftrouble. He'sbeenmoreofahindrancethanahelp. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  [noncount] a  : thefactofbeingusefultosomeone You'vebeen(of)nohelpatalltome.[=youhaven'thelpedmeatall] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples b  : thestateofbeinghelped Isthereanyhelpforus?[=isthereanythingthatcanbedonetohelpus?] Thesituationisbeyondhelp.[=nothingcanbedonetoimprovethesituation] (Brit)Therewasnohelpforitbuttotellherparents.[=therewasnowaytoavoidtellingherparents] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 4  [plural] : servantsorpaidworkers Weneedtohireadditionalhelp. Thehelphavealreadyleftfortheday. It'shardtofindgoodhelp. (US)Ilookedthroughthehelpwantedads.[=thepartofthenewspaperinwhichjobsareadvertised] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples ASKTHEEDITOR Whydowesay"didyouknow"ratherthan"doyouknow"? 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