DictionaryAI

assist

uh-SIST/əˈsɪst/

Verbassists, assisting, assisted

Noun pluralassists

8 meanings of assist

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To do something useful for someone who needs help with a task.

    Like giving a friend a hand when their arms are full.

    Volunteers assist at the shelter every weekend.

    She assisted her younger brother with his homework.

    Similarhelp, aid, support

    Oppositehinder, hamper, obstruct, impede

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A helpful action that makes a task easier for someone.

    Like a helping hand someone gives you with a heavy bag.

    Her quick assist saved us a lot of time.

    Thanks to a few assists from neighbors, the move went smoothly.

    Similarhelp, boost, aid, contribution

    Oppositehindrance

  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A pass that lets a teammate score a goal.

    Like passing the ball so a friend can put it in the net.

    His perfect assist set up the winning goal.

    She earned two assists in the final match.

    Note
  4. 4
    verbintransitive
    To make a pass that helps a teammate score.

    Like setting up a friend so they can win the point.

    He assisted on both of the team's goals.

    Good players know when to assist instead of shooting.

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable
    A play in baseball that helps a teammate get a batter or runner out.

    Like passing the ball to the player who makes the final tag.

    The shortstop's assist ended the inning.

    He led the league in assists from third base.

    Note
  6. 6
    verbtransitive
    To use a medical method or treatment to make up for something the body cannot do alone.

    Like a backup motor that takes over when the main one is too weak.

    Doctors can assist breathing with a ventilator.

    A pump assisted her heart while she recovered from surgery.

    Similarsupport, aid

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 7
    verbarchaic
    To stand in a certain place, or to hold firmly to an opinion.

    Like standing firm in one spot and not moving away.

    Two sentries assist at the chamber door until dawn.

    She assisted stoutly to her opinion before the council.

    Note
  2. 8
    verbarchaic
    To be there at an event or occasion.

    Like being one of the people in the room when something happens.

    Many nobles assist at the royal wedding.

    To assist at Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.
    1967, The Rev. Loren Gavitt (ed.), Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for members of the Episcopal ChurchHere, assist means to be present at, or attend.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of assist apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin "assistō," meaning to stand at. It came into English through Old French "assister."