helpless
gb/hˈɛlpləs/ us/hˈɛlpləs/
A2
Inglés
~ 3300
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
B1
state
1
Unable to act or protect oneself
Not able to do anything to help yourself or stop something bad.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is helpless
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'helpless' with 'useless'. 'Helpless' means unable to act in a situation, while 'useless' means not effective or without value.
Sinónimos
powerless (Emphasizes a lack of control or influence rather than physical inability.)
Antónimos
capable (Suggests having the ability or power to act effectively.)
Colocaciones
feel helpless
|completely helpless
|helpless victim
|helpless child
Temas
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The injured hiker felt helpless as night fell.
- She stood helpless in the rain, waiting for help.
- The baby was completely helpless without its parents.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I felt helpless when my phone broke.
- The small bird was helpless on the ground.
- He is helpless without his glasses.
adjective
B1
state
2
Unable to stop something from happening
Not able to stop something from happening.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is helpless against [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse 'helpless' with 'hopeless'. 'Helpless' is about inability to act; 'hopeless' is about no chance of success.
Sinónimos
defenseless (Highlights a lack of protection against an attack or harm.)
Antónimos
resistant (Able to withstand or prevent something from affecting you.)
Colocaciones
helpless against the storm
|helpless in the face of
|helpless to stop
Temas
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- We were helpless against the rising floodwaters.
- He felt helpless to change the unfair decision.
- The villagers were helpless in the face of the drought.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I am helpless against this big problem.
- She was helpless to stop the fight.
- We were helpless in the heavy snow.
adjective
A2
state
3
Requiring complete care from others
Needing other people to take care of you completely.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is helpless and needs [someone/something]
Sinónimos
dependent (Focuses on relying on others, not necessarily due to inability to act physically.)
Antónimos
self-sufficient (Able to take care of oneself without help from others.)
Colocaciones
helpless patient
|helpless elderly
|helpless animal
Temas
healthcare
|daily life
|health
|daily_life
Ejemplos
- The accident left him helpless and bedridden for months.
- Helpless patients require constant attention from nurses.
- The kitten was helpless without its mother.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The sick man is helpless in bed.
- The baby is helpless and needs food.
- She is helpless after the fall.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
helpless
AFI
GB/hˈɛlpləs/
US/hˈɛlpləs/
Sílabas y acento
help - less (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (help)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: helpless
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
feel helpless
1/fˈil hˈɛlpləs/
fixed phrase
To feel unable to act or help
To have the feeling that you cannot do anything to make a situation better.
Ejemplos
- I felt helpless watching the disaster on TV.
- Parents often feel helpless when their children are sick.
helpless with laughter
1/hˈɛlpləs wˈɪθ lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
Laughing so much you can't control yourself
Laughing so much that you cannot stop or do anything else.
Ejemplos
- He was helpless with laughter after hearing the joke.
- They were all helpless with laughter during the comedy show.
stand by helplessly
1/stˈænd bˈaɪ hˈɛlpləsli/
fixed phrase
Watch without being able to help
To watch something happen without being able to do anything about it.
Ejemplos
- We stood by helplessly as the house burned down.
- She stood by helplessly while her friend was taken away.