Engelsk

helpless

gb/hˈɛlpləs/ us/hˈɛlpləs/
A2 Engelsk
~ 3300
Betydninger
0 betydninger
adjective B1 state
1

Unable to act or protect oneself

Not able to do anything to help yourself or stop something bad.

Bruksmønster: [someone] is helpless
Vanlig feil:
Learners sometimes confuse 'helpless' with 'useless'. 'Helpless' means unable to act in a situation, while 'useless' means not effective or without value.
Synonymer
powerless (Emphasizes a lack of control or influence rather than physical inability.)
Antonymer
capable (Suggests having the ability or power to act effectively.)
Ordkombinasjoner
feel helpless |completely helpless |helpless victim |helpless child
Temaer
emotions |daily life |core_vocabulary
Eksempler
  • 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.
Eksempler for deg som lærer
  • 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.

Bruksmønster: [someone] is helpless against [something]
Vanlig feil:
Learners may confuse 'helpless' with 'hopeless'. 'Helpless' is about inability to act; 'hopeless' is about no chance of success.
Synonymer
defenseless (Highlights a lack of protection against an attack or harm.)
Antonymer
resistant (Able to withstand or prevent something from affecting you.)
Ordkombinasjoner
helpless against the storm |helpless in the face of |helpless to stop
Temaer
emotions |daily life |core_vocabulary
Eksempler
  • 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.
Eksempler for deg som lærer
  • 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.

Bruksmønster: [someone] is helpless and needs [someone/something]
Synonymer
dependent (Focuses on relying on others, not necessarily due to inability to act physically.)
Antonymer
self-sufficient (Able to take care of oneself without help from others.)
Ordkombinasjoner
helpless patient |helpless elderly |helpless animal
Temaer
healthcare |daily life |health |daily_life
Eksempler
  • The accident left him helpless and bedridden for months.
  • Helpless patients require constant attention from nurses.
  • The kitten was helpless without its mother.
Eksempler for deg som lærer
  • The sick man is helpless in bed.
  • The baby is helpless and needs food.
  • She is helpless after the fall.
Grammatikk
Oppslagsform
helpless
IPA
GB/hˈɛlpləs/
US/hˈɛlpləs/
Stavelser og trykk
help - less (2 stavelser)
Stress on 1st syllable (help)
Bøyingsformer
Adjective
  • Base: helpless
Ordfamilie
Core family
help verb A1 helpful adjective A2 helplessly adverb
Related words
helper noun A2 helplessness noun helpfulness noun
Negative and opposite forms
unhelpful adjective B2 unhelpfully adverb
Uttrykk

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.

Eksempler
  • 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.

Eksempler
  • 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.

Eksempler
  • We stood by helplessly as the house burned down.
  • She stood by helplessly while her friend was taken away.

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