assist

1 of 2

verb

as·​sist ə-ˈsist How to pronounce assist (audio)
assisted; assisting; assists

transitive verb

: to give usually supplementary support or aid to
She assisted the boy with his lessons.

intransitive verb

1
: to give support or aid
assisted at the stove
Another surgeon assisted on the operation.
2
: to be present as a spectator
… the ideal figures assisting at Italian holy scenes.Mary McCarthy

assist

2 of 2

noun

1
US : an act or action that helps someone : an act of assistance
He wrote the story with an assist from a friend. [=with the help of a friend]
2
: the action (such as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout (as in baseball) or score a goal (as in basketball or hockey)
also : official credit given for such an action
was credited with 5 assists in the first half
3
: a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance

Examples of assist in a Sentence

Verb The device assists those who can't climb stairs. The President was assisted by his advisers. She assisted the boy with his homework. Another doctor assisted him with the operation. Another doctor assisted with the operation. Federal agents are assisting with the investigation. She assisted in making the decision. The cream assists in the prevention of skin cancer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Vanguard Green Investment Limited plans to focus on green finance and ESG standards, aiming to develop innovative financial solutions and assist companies in reducing their carbon footprint. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024 Calcium helps maintain strong bones, while vitamin D assists in calcium absorption. Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
Smith has one assist and is a -6 in his last five games, averaging 14:27 in ice time. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 Brandon Ingram went for 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to give the Nuggets (7-4) a group-stage loss in the second annual in-season tournament. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assist 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English assisten "to help, aid, give aid (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French assister (Middle French also "to be present near, stand near" [with a "to"]), borrowed from Latin assistō, assistere "to take up a position near, stand by, stand by as a supporter or advocate," from ad- ad- (assimilated to as-) + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt," going back to Indo-European *sti-sth2-e-, reduplicated present formation from the base *steh2- "set up (in a place), take a position," whence also Old Irish ˑsissedar (in arˑsissedar "[s/he] stays, stands fast"), Greek hístēmi, histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístamai, hístasthai "to take up a position, come and stand," Sanskrit tíṣṭhati "(s/he) takes a position, stands," Avestan hištaṇti "(they) take a position" — more at stand entry 1

Noun

derivative of assist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assist was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near assist

Cite this Entry

“Assist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assist. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

assist

1 of 2 verb
as·​sist ə-ˈsist How to pronounce assist (audio)
: to give support or aid : help

assist

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of assisting
2
: the action of a player who by passing a ball or puck makes it possible for a teammate to make a putout or score a goal

Medical Definition

assist

1 of 2 transitive verb
as·​sist ə-ˈsist How to pronounce assist (audio)
: to give usually supplementary support or aid to
assist the patient up the stairs
assist respiration mechanically

intransitive verb

: to give support or aid

assist

2 of 2 noun
: an act or procedure that provides assistance
external pressure circulatory assist employs compression of the lower extremitiesP. W. Wright

More from Merriam-Webster on assist

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