help
/help/ IELTSAcademic
verb
to make it easier for someone to do something, or to make a problem less severe.
- Can you help me with this form?
- This medicine helps with the pain.
- She helped me carry the bags.
noun
support or assistance given to someone.
- Thanks for your help.
- I need help with my homework.
- The child called for help.
Adinary Nuance
Help is the most general word for giving support or making something easier. It is simpler and more direct than assist, which sounds more formal and is common in writing or business. It is also broader than aid, which often appears in official, medical, or humanitarian contexts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- giúp đỡ
- Spanish
- ayudar
- Chinese
- 帮助
- Japanese
- 助ける
- Korean
- 돕다
Etymology
Help comes from Old English helpan, meaning “to help” or “to support.” It has been common in English since early times.
Common phrases
help withhelp outhelp someone do somethingcan I help you
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is help formal or informal?
- Help is neutral and very common in everyday English.
- What is the difference between help and assist?
- Help is more common and natural in speaking. Assist is more formal.
- Can help be a noun and a verb?
- Yes. It is a noun in “I need help” and a verb in “Please help me.”
- Is help used in academic writing?
- Yes, but it is very general. Academic writing often uses assist, support, or aid.