help

[[t]he̱lp[/t]]

♦

helps, helping, helped

1) VERB If you help someone, you make it easier for them to do something, for example by doing part of the work for them or by giving them advice or money.

[V to-inf/inf] He has helped to raise a lot of money...

[V to-inf/inf] My mum used to help cook the meals for the children...

[V n inf/to-inf] America's priority is to help nations defend themselves...

You can of course help by giving them a donation directly...

I was only trying to help...

[V n] If you're not willing to help me, I'll find somebody who will.

Syn:

assistance

N-UNCOUNT

Help is also a noun.

Thanks very much for your help... Always ask the pharmacist for help... Some of them have qualified for help with monthly payments.

2) VERB If you say that something helps, you mean that it makes something easier to do or get, or that it improves a situation to some extent.

[V to-inf/inf] The right style of swimsuit can help to hide, minimise or emphasise what you want it to...

[V n] Building more motorways and by-passes will help the environment by reducing pollution and traffic jams in towns and cities...

[V n to-inf/inf] Understanding these rare molecules will help chemists to find out what is achievable...

I could cook your supper, though, if that would help.

3) VERB If you help someone go somewhere or move in some way, you give them support so that they can move more easily.

[V n prep/adv] Martin helped Tanya over the rail...

[V n prep/adv] I allowed her to help me to my feet...

[V n prep/adv] Come and help me up!...

[V n inf/to-inf] She helped her sit up in bed so she could hold her baby.

4) VERB If you help yourself, you try to get yourself out of a difficult situation rather than accept it and think you can do nothing to change it.

[V pron-refl] He tries to help people with problems, but firmly believes they should do more to help themselves.

5) N-SING: a N, also no det If you say that someone or something has been a help or has been some help, you mean that they have helped you to solve a problem.

Thank you. You've been a great help already.

...a quality which will be a help rather than a hindrance to them...

She's been a lot of help...

The books were not much help.

6) N-UNCOUNT Help is action taken to rescue a person who is in danger. You shout `help!' when you are in danger in order to attract someone's attention so that they can come and rescue you.

He was screaming for help...

`Help!' I screamed, turning to run.

7) VERB If you help yourself to something, you serve yourself or you take it for yourself. If someone tells you to help yourself, they are telling you politely to serve yourself anything you want or to take anything you want.

[V pron-refl] There's bread on the table. Help yourself...

[V pron-refl to n] Just help yourself to leaflets.

8) VERB If someone helps themselves to something, they steal it. [INFORMAL]

[V pron-refl to n] Has somebody helped himself to some film star's diamonds?

9) → See also helping

10) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR it, PHR pron-refl, PHR n If you can't help the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it happening. You can also say that you can't help yourself.

I can't help feeling sorry for the poor man...

`Please don't cry.' - `I can't help it.'...

Jerry and Lise know their romance inflicts hurt on others, but they can't help themselves...

He can't help a suppressed giggle.

11) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR but inf (vagueness) If you say you can't help thinking something, you are expressing your opinion in an indirect way, often because you think it seems rude.

I can't help feeling that this may just be another of her schemes...

I could not help but think this is a very queer life.

12) PHRASE: V inflects If someone or something is of help, they make a situation easier or better.

Can I be of help to you?

Phrasal Verbs:

- help off with

- help on with

- help out