The activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose:
— Offered his help in unloading.

synonyms: aid, assist, assistance.

Roget 746: subject, liegeman^†; servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache; official.    retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court.    attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel^†, footboy^†; train bearer, cup bearer; waiter, lapster^†, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre [Fr.]; equerry, groom; jockey, hostler, ostler^†, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie^†, herdsman, swineherd; barkeeper, bartender; bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper^†; khansamah^†, khansaman^†; khitmutgar^†; yardman.    bailiff, castellan^†, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo^†, groom of the chambers.    secretary; under secretary, assistant secretary; clerk; subsidiary; agent etc. 758; subaltern; underling, understrapper; man.    maid, maidservant; handmaid; confidente [Fr.], lady's maid, abigail, soubrette; amah^†, biddy, nurse, bonne [Fr.], ayah^†; nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid; femme de chambre [Fr.], femme fille [Fr.]; camarista^†; chef de cuisine, cordon bleu [Fr.], cook, scullion, Cinderella; potwalloper^†; maid of all work, servant of all work; laundress, bedmaker^†; journeyman, charwoman etc. (worker) 690; bearer, chokra^†, gyp (Cambridge), hamal^†, scout (Oxford). serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot; bondsman, bondswoman^†; bondslave^†; ame damnee [Fr.], odalisque, ryot^†, adscriptus gleboe [Lat.]; villian^†, villein; beadsman^†, bedesman^†; sizar^†; pensioner, pensionary^†; client; dependant, dependent; hanger on, satellite; parasite etc. (servility) 886; led captain; protege [Fr.], ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature.    badge of slavery; bonds etc. 752.    ... show more

Roget 784: giving etc. v.; bestowal, bestowment^†, donation; presentation, presentment; accordance; concession; delivery, consignment, dispensation, communication, endowment; investment, investiture; award.    almsgiving^†, charity, liberality, generosity.    [Thing given] gift, donation, present, cadeau^†; fairing; free gift, boon, favor, benefaction, grant, offering, oblation, sacrifice, immolation; lagniappe [U.S.], pilon [U.S.].    grace, act of grace, bonus.    allowance, contribution, subscription, subsidy, tribute, subvention.    bequest, legacy, devise, will, dotation^†, dot, appanage; voluntary settlement, voluntary conveyance etc. 783; amortization.    alms, largess, bounty, dole, sportule^†, donative^†, help, oblation, offertory, honorarium, gratuity, Peter pence, sportula^†, Christmas box, Easter offering, vail^†, douceur [Fr.], drink money, pourboire, trinkgeld [G.], bakshish^†; fee etc. (recompense) 973; consideration.    bribe, bait, ground bait; peace offering, handsel; boodle [Slang], graft, grease [Slang]; blat [Rus.].    giver, grantor etc. v.; donor, feoffer^†, settlor.    ... show more

Roget 707: aid, aidance^†; assistance, help, opitulation^†, succor; support, lift, advance, furtherance, promotion; coadjuvancy etc. (cooperation) 709^†.    patronage, championship, countenance, favor, interest, advocacy.    sustentation, subvention, alimentation, nutrition, nourishment; eutrophy; manna in the wilderness; food etc. 298; means etc. 632.    ministry, ministration; subministration^†; accommodation.    relief, rescue; help at a dead lift; supernatural aid; deus ex machina [Lat.].    supplies, reinforcements, reenforcements^†, succors, contingents, recruits; support etc. (physical) 215; adjunct, ally etc. (helper) 711.    ... show more

Roget 662: remedy, help, cure, redress; medicine, medicament; diagnosis, medical examination; medical treatment; surgery; preventive medicine.    [medical devices] clinical thermometer, stethoscope, X-ray machine.    anthelmintic [Med.]; antidote, antifebrile [Med.], antipoison^†, counterpoison^†, antitoxin, antispasmodic; bracer, faith cure, placebo; helminthagogue^†, lithagogue^†, pick-meup, stimulant, tonic; vermifuge, prophylactic, corrective, restorative; sedative etc. 174; palliative; febrifuge; alterant^†, alterative; specific; antiseptic, emetic, analgesic, pain-killer, antitussive [Med.], antiinflammatory [Med.], antibiotic, antiviral [Med.], antifungal [Med.], carminative; Nepenthe, Mithridate.    cure, treatment, regimen; radical cure, perfect cure, certain cure; sovereign remedy.    examination, diagnosis, diagnostics; analysis, urinalysis, biopsy, radiology.    medicine, physic, Galenicals^†, simples, drug, pharmaceutical, prescription, potion, draught, dose, pill, bolus, injection, infusion, drip, suppository, electuary^†; linctus^†, lincture^†; medicament; pharmacon^†.    nostrum, receipt, recipe, prescription; catholicon^†, panacea, elixir, elixir vitae, philosopher's stone; balm, balsam, cordial, theriac^†, ptisan^†.    agueweed^†, arnica, benzoin, bitartrate of potash, boneset^†, calomel, catnip, cinchona, cream of tartar, Epsom salts [Chem]; feverroot^†, feverwort; friar's balsam, Indian sage; ipecac, ipecacuanha; jonquil, mercurous chloride, Peruvian bark; quinine, quinquina^†; sassafras, yarrow.    salve, ointment, cerate, oil, lenitive, lotion, cosmetic; plaster; epithem^†, embrocation^†, liniment, cataplasm^†, sinapism^†, arquebusade^†, traumatic, vulnerary, pepastic^†, poultice, collyrium^†, depilatory; emplastrum^†; eyewater^†, vesicant, vesicatory [Med.].    compress, pledget^†; bandage etc. (support) 215.    treatment, medical treatment, regimen; dietary, dietetics; vis medicatrix^†, vis medicatrix naturae [Lat.]; medecine expectante [Fr.]; bloodletting, bleeding, venesection [Med.], phlebotomy, cupping, sanguisae, leeches; operation, surgical operation; transfusion, infusion, intravenous infusion, catheter, feeding tube; prevention, preventative medicine, immunization, inoculation, vaccination, vaccine, shot, booster, gamma globulin.    pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceutics; pharmacopoeia, formulary; acology^†, Materia Medica [Lat.], therapeutics, posology^†; homeopathy, allopathy^†, heteropathy [Med.], osteopathy, hydropathy [Med.]; cold water cure; dietetics; surgery, chirurgery [Med.], chirurgy^†; healing art, leechcraft^†; orthopedics, orthopedy^†, orthopraxy^†; pediatrics; dentistry, midwifery, obstetrics, gynecology; tocology^†; sarcology^†.    hospital, infirmary; pesthouse^†, lazarhouse^†; lazaretto; lock hospital; maison de sante [Fr.]; ambulance.    dispensary; dispensatory^†, drug store, pharmacy, apothecary, druggist, chemist.    Hotel des Invalides; sanatorium, spa, pump room, well; hospice; Red Cross.    doctor, physician, surgeon; medical practitioner, general practitioner, specialist; medical attendant, apothecary, druggist; leech; osteopath, osteopathist^†; optometrist, ophthalmologist; internist, oncologist, gastroenterologist; epidemiologist [Med.], public health specialist; dermatologist; podiatrist; witch doctor, shaman, faith healer, quack, exorcist; Aesculapius^†, Hippocrates, Galen; accoucheur [Fr.], accoucheuse [Fr.], midwife, oculist, aurist^†; operator; nurse, registered nurse, practical nurse, monthly nurse, sister; nurse's aide, candystriper; dresser; bonesetter; pharmaceutist^†, pharmacist, druggist, chemist, pharmacopolist^†.    ... show more

Dutch: assistent, steun, assistentie, bijstand, hulp, hulpbetoon, hulpverlening, medewerking
Polish: wsparcie, pomoc

A person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose:
— They hired additional help to finish the work.

synonyms: assistant, helper, supporter.

Roget 711: auxiliary; recruit; assistant; adjuvant, adjutant; ayudante^†, coaid^†; adjunct; help, helper, help mate, helping hand; midwife; colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator; coadjutor, coadjutrix^†; collaborator.    ally; friend etc. 890, confidant, fidus Achates [Lat.], pal, buddy, alter ego.    [criminal law] confederate; accomplice; complice; accessory, accessory after the fact; particeps criminis [Lat.]; socius criminis [Lat.].    aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal; right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer; candle-holder, bottle-holder; handmaid; servant etc. 746; puppet, cat's-paw, jackal^†.    tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee [Fr.]; satellite, adherent.    votary; sectarian, secretary; seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator; angel (theater, entertainment). friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina [Lat.], guardian angel, tutelary genius.    ... show more

Dutch: assistent, helper, hulp, dienstknecht, knecht, waterdrager
Polish: pomagier, pomocnik

A person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do.

synonyms: aid, assistance.

Dutch: hulp, hulpje, hulpmiddel, utiliteit

A means of serving:
— There's no help for it.

synonyms: avail, service.

Roget 644: utility; usefulness etc. adj.; efficacy, efficiency, adequacy; service, use, stead, avail; help etc. (aid) 707; applicability etc. adj.; subservience etc. (instrumentality) 631; function etc. (business) 625; value; worth etc. (goodness) 648; money's worth; productiveness etc. 168; cui bono [Lat.] etc. (intention) 620; utilization etc. (use) 677; step in the right direction.    common weal; commonwealth public good, public interest; utilitarianism etc. (philanthropy) 910.    ... show more

Give help or assistance; be of service:
— Everyone helped out during the earthquake.
— Can you help me carry this table?.
— She never helps around the house.

synonyms: aid, assist.

Roget 707: aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid; come to the aid etc. n.. of; contribute, subscribe to; bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid etc. n.; give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand; give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn; take by the hand, take in tow; help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to.    relieve, rescue; set up, set agoing^†, set on one's legs; bear through, pull through; give new life to, be the making of; reinforce, reenforce, recruit; set forward, put forward, push forward; give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to; promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten.    support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster.    cradle, nourish; nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse; manure, cultivate, force; foster, cherish, foment; feed the flame, fan the flame.    serve; do service to, tender to, pander to; administer to, subminister to^†, minister to; tend, attend, wait on; take care of etc. 459; entertain; smooth the bed of death.    oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of; humor, cheer, encourage.    second, stand by; back, back up; pay the piper, abet; work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for; take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of; advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service; squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize; lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to; smile upon, shine upon; favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of; side with etc. (cooperate) 709.    be of use to; subserve etc. (instrument) 631; benefit etc. 648; render a service etc. (utility) 644; conduce etc. (tend) 176.    ... show more

Roget 784: deliver, hand, pass, put into the hands of; hand over, make over, deliver over, pass over, turn over; assign dower.    present, give away, dispense, dispose of; give out, deal out, dole out, mete out, fork out, squeeze out.    pay etc. 807; render, impart, communicate.    concede, cede, yield, part with, shed, cast; spend etc. 809.    give, bestow, confer, grant, accord, award, assign.    intrust, consign, vest in.    make a present; allow, contribute, subscribe, furnish its quota.    invest, endow, settle upon; bequeath, leave, devise.    furnish, supply, help; administer to; afford, spare; accommodate with, indulge with, favor with; shower down upon; lavish, pour on, thrust upon.    tip, bribe; tickle the palm, grease the palm; offer etc. 763; sacrifice, immolate.    ... show more

Dutch: assisteren, bijstaan, een [[voorzet]] [[geven]], gerieven, helpen, voorzetten

Improve the condition of:
— These pills will help the patient.

synonym: aid.

Be of use:
— This will help to prevent accidents.

synonym: facilitate.

Dutch: helpen, uithalen

Abstain from doing; always used with a negative:
— I can't help myself--I have to smoke.
— She could not help watching the sad spectacle.

synonym: help oneself.

Help to some food; help with food or drink:
— I served him three times, and after that he helped himself.

synonym: serve.

Roget 644: be useful etc. adj.; avail, serve; subserve etc. (be instrumental to) 631; conduce etc. (tend) 176; answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose.    act a part etc. (action) 680; perform a function, discharge a function &c.; render a service, render good service, render yeoman's service; bestead^†, stand one in good stead be the making of; help etc. 707.    bear fruit etc. (produce) 161; bring grist to the mill; profit, remunerate; benefit etc. (do good) 648.    find one's account in, find one's advantage in; reap the benefit of etc. (be better for) 658.    render useful etc. (use) 677.    ... show more

Contribute to the furtherance of.

Take or use:
— She helped herself to some of the office supplies.

synonym: avail.

Improve; change for the better.