assist

[ uh-sist ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give support or aid to; help:

   Please assist him in moving the furniture.

   Synonyms: promote, back, befriend, abet, sustain

   Antonyms: frustrate, hinder

2. to be associated with as an assistant or helper.

verb (used without object)

1. to give aid or help.
2. to be present, as at a meeting or ceremony.

noun

1. Sports.
   1. Baseball. a play that helps to put out a batter or base runner.
   2. Basketball, Ice Hockey. a play that helps a teammate in gaining a goal.
   3. the official credit scored for such plays.
2. a helpful act:

   She finished her homework without an assist from her father.

3. Machinery. an electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical means of increasing power, efficiency, or ease of use:

   a luxury automobile equipped with assists for brakes, steering, windows, and seat adjustment.

assist

/ əˈsɪst /

verb

1. to give help or support to (a person, cause, etc); aid
2. to work or act as an assistant or subordinate to (another)
3. ice hockey to help (a team-mate) to score, as by passing the puck
4. archaic.
   intrfoll byat to be present; attend

noun

1. the act of helping; aid; assistance
2. baseball the act of a player who throws or deflects a batted ball in such a way that a team is enabled to put out an opponent
3. sport
   1. a pass or other action by a player which enables another player to score a goal
   2. a credit given for such an action

Derived Forms

• asˈsister, noun

Other Words From

• as·sister Chiefly Law, as·sistor noun
• as·sistive adjective
• nonas·sister noun
• over·as·sist verb
• reas·sist verb (used with object)
• unas·sisted adjective
• unas·sisting adjective
• well-as·sisted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin assistere “to stand by, help,” from as- as- ( def ) + sistere “to cause to stand, stop,” derivative of stāre “to stand” ( stand ( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

C15: from French assister to be present, from Latin assistere to stand by, from sistere to cause to stand, from stāre to stand

Synonym Study

See help.

Example Sentences

Local residents have pleaded with the authorities to assist the miners, but they have refused.

From BBC

For his part, Danson is doing his best to combat the fears of aging he had in his youth — with an assist from Jane Fonda.

From Los Angeles Times

Also left unsaid: how many people will assist the two magnates and how that staff will be paid.

From Los Angeles Times

Pritzker said that they would form a response to proposals like Trump advisor Stephen Miller's proposal to send red state National Guard units to blue states to assist in the deportations.

From Salon

“He was a player I aspired to be when I was younger because of his work ethic. He had an aura on the pitch – give him the ball and he will go and get you a goal or an assist,” the ex-Swansea City and Manchester United man added.

From BBC

Related Words

• aid
• back
• benefit
• boost
• cooperate
• expedite
• facilitate
• reinforce
• support
• sustain
• take care of