to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist

He planned to help me with my work. Let me help you with those packages.

to save; rescue; succor

Help me, I'm falling!

to make easier or less difficult; contribute to; facilitate

The exercise of restraint is certain to help the achievement of peace.

to be useful or profitable to

Her quick mind helped her career.

to refrain from; avoid (usually prec. by can or cannot )

He can't help doing it.

to relieve or break the uniformity of

Small patches of bright color can help an otherwise dull interior.

to relieve (someone) in need, sickness, pain, or distress.

to remedy, stop, or prevent

Nothing will help my headache.

to serve food to at table (usually fol. by to )

Help her to salad.

to serve or wait on (a customer), as in a store.

to give aid; be of service or advantage

Every little bit helps.

the act of helping; aid or assistance; relief or succor.

a person or thing that helps

She certainly is a help in an emergency.

a hired helper; employee.

a body of such helpers.

a domestic servant or a farm laborer.

means of remedying, stopping, or preventing

The thing is done, and there is no help for it now.

Older Use . helping ( def. 2 ) .

(used as an exclamation to call for assistance or to attract attention.) ?

help out, to assist in an effort; be of aid to

Her relatives helped out when she became ill.

cannot or can't help but

to be unable to refrain from or avoid; be obliged to

Still, you can't help but admire her.

help oneself to

to serve oneself; take a portion of

Help yourself to the cake.

to take or use without asking permission; appropriate

They helped themselves to the farmer's apples. Help yourself to any of the books we're giving away.

so help me

(used as a mild form of the oath so help me God) I am speaking the truth; on my honor

That's exactly what happened, so help me.

noun

blockage , check , counteraction , harm , hindrance , hurt , injury , obstruction , stop , management , ownership

verb

block , check , counteract , harm , hinder , hurt , injure , obstruct , stop , decrease , worsen

noun

advice , aid , assist , avail , balm * , benefit , comfort , cooperation , corrective , cure , guidance , hand , helping hand , lift * , maintenance , nourishment , remedy , service , succor , support , sustenance , use , utility , abettor , adjutant , aide , ally , ancilla , assistant , attendant , auxiliary , collaborator , colleague , deputy , domestic , helper , helpmate , mate , partner , representative , right-hand person , servant , subsidiary , supporter , worker , abetment , assistance , relief , reliever , succorer , adminicle , backing , coperation , coadjuvancy , encouragement , facilitation , recourse , restorative , subsidy , subvention

verb

abet , accommodate , advocate , back , ballyhoo * , befriend , benefit , be of use , bolster , boost , buck up * , cheer , cooperate , do a favor , do a service , do one’s part , encourage , endorse , further , go to bat for * , go with , hype * , intercede , lend a hand , maintain , open doors , patronize , plug * , promote , prop , puff * , push , relieve , root for , sanction , save , second , see through , serve , stand by , stick up for , stimulate , stump for , succor , support , sustain , take under one’s wing , uphold , work for , alleviate , ameliorate , amend , attend , better , cure , doctor , ease , facilitate , heal , meliorate , mitigate , nourish , palliate , remedy , restore , revive , treat , aid , assist , upgrade , adminicle , advance , advice , assistance , avail , champion , coperate , collaborate , connive , contribute , cooperation , employee , expedite , favor , guidance , hand , improve , laborer , lift , participate , relief , repair , rescue , servant , sos , stead , strengthen , subsidize , worker