help
/help/
make easier/better
1 intransitive, transitive to make it easier or possible for somebody to do something by doing something for them or by giving them something that they need What can I do to help?
I was only trying to help!
help with something
He always helps with the housework.
help somebody
They are trying their best to do a good job and help others.
help somebody with something
Jo will help us with some of the organization.
help in doing something
Following these steps will help in protecting our environment.
help somebody (to) do something
Come and help me lift this box.
This charity aims to help people to help themselves.
The college's aim is to help students achieve their aspirations.
help (to) do something
She helped organize the party.
Some history may help to explain why this is.
Collocations
adverb
verb + help
be able to
can
be unable to
preposition
across
into
out of…
phrases
help somebody to their feet
a way of helping
The support of our families has helped enormously.
it helps (doing something)
It helped being able to talk about it.
it helps that…
It certainly helped that her father is a duke!
help towards something
The money raised will help towards (= partly pay for) the cost of organizing the championships.
help something
It doesn't really help matters knowing that everyone is talking about us.
help (to) do something
This should help to reduce the pain.
We need new measures to help fight terrorism.
Collocations
adverb
verb + help
be designed to
preposition
in
somebody to move
3 transitive help somebody + adv./prep. to help somebody move or do some other action by letting them lean on you, guiding them, etc. She helped him to his feet.
We were helped ashore by local people.
give food/drink
4 transitive to give yourself/somebody food, drinks, etc. help yourself
If you want another drink, just help yourself.
help yourself/somebody to something
Can I help you to some more salad?
steal
5 transitive help yourself to something (informal, disapproving) to take something without permission He'd been helping himself to the money in the cash register.
Idiom
noun
/help/
making easier/better
1 uncountable the act of helping somebody to do something Thank you for all your help.
to ask/call/appeal for help
The offer of help came too late.
help with something
Do you need any help with that?
of help (to somebody)
Can I be of any help to you?
with help from somebody/something
With help from a parent, a child can do simple cooking.
with the help of somebody/something
She recovered with the help of her family and friends.
He attended university with the help of a scholarship.
without the help of somebody/something
None of this would have been possible without their help.
They have at last decided to enlist the help of experts.
They can usually manage by themselves, but occasionally need outside help.
Collocations
adjective
verb + help
help + verb
be at hand
help + noun
preposition
beyond help
of help
with help
phrases
an appeal, a plea, a request, etc. for help
a cry for help
in need of help…
for somebody in danger
2 uncountable the act of helping somebody who is in danger Quick, get help!
She screamed for help.
I heard a cry for help.
advice/money
3 uncountable advice, money, etc. that is given to somebody in order to solve their problems professional/medical/financial help
I decided to seek legal help.
help in doing something
The organization offers practical help in dealing with paperwork.
help with something
You should qualify for help with the costs of running a car.
help for somebody
The charity provides emergency help for refugees.
help from somebody
Get help from someone who understands the legal side.
on a computer/phone, etc.
4 uncountable a function on a computer, phone, etc. that provides information on how to use the computer, phone, etc. The online help is very good.
a help file/page/menu/screen
being useful
The map wasn't much help.
Was the information I gave you any help?
Just shouting at him isn't going to be a lot of help.
with the help of something
I managed to understand it with the help of a dictionary.
of help (to somebody)
The course they sent me on was of no help whatsoever!
person/thing
6 singular a person or thing that helps somebody She was more of a hindrance than a help.
It's a great help having you around.
Your advice was a big help.
a help to somebody
She's been a big help to her father.
(ironic) You're a great help, I must say!
in house
Idiom
Word Origin