help 1 of 2

verb

ˈhelp How to pronounce help (audio)
Definition of helpnext
1
as in to assist
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end offered to help her widowed father when he moved into an apartment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to alleviate
to make more bearable or less severe the new ointment didn't help Josh's sunburn one bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance they couldn't help the way things turned out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to benefit
to provide with something useful or desirable being independently wealthy certainly helped him during his years as a struggling young artist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to improve
to make better some minor revisions would help this essay immensely

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

help

2 of 2

noun

1
as in assist
an act or instance of helping I could use your help getting this tire back on the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in benefit
a thing that helps the computer is a great help for writing reports

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in staff
a body of persons at work or available for work it's so hard to get good help these days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word help distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of help are ameliorate, better, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

In what contexts can ameliorate take the place of help?

Although the words ameliorate and help have much in common, ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

How do improve and better relate to one another, in the sense of help?

Both improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of help
Verb
Unable to stop his dragon-mad daughter, Daemon offers to help her. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Elle Shushan, a miniaturist paintings expert and art historian Graham Boettcher, who serves as director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, are two of the experts that have helped guide and exhibit their collection. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
It was developed through collaboration between the Utility Helicopters Project Office and the DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center, with help from Army technical programs and industry partners for integration and flight testing. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026 With the help of Keeley Jones, Rebecca Welton, Leslie Higgins, Coach Beard and newcomer Tanya Reynolds, the former United States football and now UK football coach will navigate new waters with the same team-building tactics. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for help
Recent Examples of Synonyms for help
  1. assist
  2. alleviate
  3. prevent
  4. benefit
  5. improve
  6. assistance
  7. advantage
  8. staff
Verb
  • Metro Fire officials were assisting the Rancho Cordova Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the woman’s death.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • The New England Revolution player assisted both of Son’s goals during his 36 minutes on the field.
    — Kamran Nia July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
Definition of assist
Verb
  • Adding Skubal alleviates some of the weight of that decision.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The patented, portable Ready Rocker is ergonomically designed to help alleviate discomfort, relieve back pain, reduce stress, calm anxiety and improve sleep, fitting both deep and shallow seating with two rocking positions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • First is to prevent their further migration by enforcing an international treaty obliging national authorities to treat ballast waters inside incoming ships that may carry such species.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Colin Gray’s trial also revealed the shooting was nearly prevented.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of prevent
Verb
  • Instead of drawing exclusively from one account, retirees may benefit from coordinating withdrawals among taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts.
    — David Kudla, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The center benefited from being under the umbrella of the Institute of Transportation Studies, which also received state funding, Handy said.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of benefit
Verb
  • But the goal is to improve food access for vulnerable residents, Wang said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this year, Atrium Health and WakeMed announced a merger agreement, projected to improve access and affordability across the state, accelerate growth and jobs in Wake County and transform mental healthcare.
    — Eva Flowe August 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of improve
Noun
  • The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance to locate a 21-year-old man prosecutors allege held another man against his will at Smithville Lake.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is leading the death investigation with assistance from local, state and federal agencies.
    — Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of assistance
Noun
  • Those firms that subordinated customer value to residual claims frequently paid a price; those who reversed the order compounded advantage.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Trust, financing, developer communities, standards, commercial partnerships, and diplomatic credibility have become competitive advantages in their own right.
    — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • Its name is a nod to the staff meal everyone enjoys together before a restaurant service.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The ratings do not consider changes in player personnel or coaching staff.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of staff

Browse Nearby Words

helots
help
helped
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Cite this Entry

“Help.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/help. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of help for Spanish Speakers

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