assist
gb/əsˈɪst/ us/əsˈɪst/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
help or support someone
To help someone do something.
Usage pattern:
to assist [someone] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'assist' with 'attend'. 'Assist' means to help, while 'attend' means to be present at an event.
Synonyms
help (More common and general term used in everyday speech.)
|
aid (Slightly more formal and often used in official or professional contexts.)
Antonyms
hinder (Means to make it harder for someone to do something.)
|
obstruct (Implies actively blocking progress or preventing success.)
Collocations
assist with tasks
|assist a customer
|assist the police
|assist in recovery
Themes
daily life
|work
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher assisted the students with their projects.
- A nurse will assist the doctor during surgery.
- Police are asking the public to assist in the investigation.
- Volunteers assisted the elderly residents during the evacuation.
- She assisted him in carrying the heavy box.
Learner examples
- I will assist you with your homework.
- Can you assist me in finding my bag?
- He assisted his friend to move the table.
- They assisted the old man across the street.
- We assist our teacher in class.
Noun
B1
entity
2
help leading to a score in sports
In sports, a pass or play that helps a teammate score.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'assist' (noun) with 'assistant' (person who helps). In sports, 'assist' is an action, not a person.
Synonyms
set-up (Informal sports term meaning a pass that leads to a score.)
Collocations
record an assist
|credit for an assist
|game-winning assist
Themes
sports
|communication
Examples
- He was credited with an assist on the winning goal.
- The point guard had twelve assists in the game.
- Her quick pass resulted in an assist for the team captain.
- That was his third assist of the season.
- The player made a perfect assist to secure the win.
Learner examples
- She got an assist when her teammate scored.
- He made two assists in the match.
- That pass was an assist for the goal.
- I saw him get an assist in the game.
- He gave an assist to his friend on the court.
Grammar
Dictionary form
assist
IPA
GB/əsˈɪst/
US/əsˈɪst/
Syllables & stress
as - sist (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sist)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: assist
- 3rd Person Singular: assists
- Present Participle: assisting
- Past: assisted
Word family
Forms
assists
verb
assisting
verb
assisted
verb
Core family
assistance
noun A2
assistant
noun A2
Related words
assistive
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unassisted
adjective B2
Expressions
assist at
1/əsˈɪst ˈæt/
fixed phrase
formal
be present to help at an event
To be there and help during an event.
Examples
- Several staff members will assist at the conference.
- Nurses assisted at the birth.
assist in
1/əsˈɪst ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
help in achieving something
To help make something happen or succeed.
Examples
- The new software will assist in improving efficiency.
- He assisted in organizing the charity event.
assist with
1/əsˈɪst wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
help with a task or activity
To help by doing part of something.
Examples
- Could you assist with setting up the chairs?
- Staff will assist with your luggage.