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

“We would have been able to diagnose our son much earlier if we had any clues because he was 12 when he was diagnosed. At that time I didn’t know much about autism at all and it was a very scary and stressful time for us and it was scary for him too. This show will go a very long way in helping to alleviate that fear.”

From Los Angeles Times

Good people kicking themselves and pointing fingers isn’t helping.

From Salon

Navy to protect their comms, the browser’s code was made public in the mid-2000s and TOR became a nonprofit aimed at helping activists in authoritarian regimes bypass the censors.

From Salon

Daisy said she likes her mum helping her at home, but wants to go back to school one day.

From BBC

She credits stand-up with helping her heal.

From Los Angeles Times