helping

[ hel-ping ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that helps.
2. a portion of food served to a person at one time:

   That's his third helping of ice cream.

adjective

1. giving aid, assistance, support, or the like.

helping

/ ˈhɛlpɪŋ /

noun

1. a single portion of food taken at a meal

Other Words From

• helping·ly adverb
• un·helping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of helping¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; help, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Oz promised to work closely with the equally unqualified conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been tapped to head the Department of Health and Human Services, so that's a double helping of kookiness.

From Salon

This collaborative study initiated by the University of Surrey identifies previously hidden mechanisms that contribute to both efficiency and stability losses and addresses these challenges, helping the scientific community to advance this technology.

From Science Daily

Not realising how serious her husband's condition was, she said she had spent time helping the ambulance crew.

From BBC

The Israeli peace activist had been helping Palestinian farmers pick their olives when she was assaulted without provocation.

From BBC

Despite helping fund and start it, Mr Dorsey is no longer part of the team behind the social network.

From BBC