help
verb/help/
/help/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they help | /help/ /help/ |
| he / she / it helps | /helps/ /helps/ |
| past simple helped | /helpt/ /helpt/ |
| past participle helped | /helpt/ /helpt/ |
| -ing form helping | /ˈhelpɪŋ/ /ˈhelpɪŋ/ |
- [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.
Express Yourself Asking for helpAsking for helpIf you need help, people are more likely to react favourably if you ask politely:- Could you possibly help me?
- I wonder if you could give me a hand?
- Would you mind opening the door for me?
- I wonder if you'd mind taking a picture of us?
- Could I ask you to keep an eye on my luggage for a moment?
- Yes, of course.
- I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry.
- Sure.
Express Yourself Offering to do somethingOffering to do somethingThere are various ways of offering and accepting help:- Would you like me to help you with that?
- Can I give you a hand?
- Can I help you with that?
- Shall I carry that for you?
- Would it help if I spoke to Julie before you call her?
- Let me take your bag.
- If there's anything I can do (to help), let me know.
- That's very kind of you. Thank you.
- Thank you. It's very nice of you to offer.
- It's all right, thank you. I can manage.
- Thanks. That would be very helpful.
Extra ExamplesTopics Social issuesa1- I'm afraid I can't help you.
- My mother helps me a lot.
- Talking to a counsellor helped her enormously.
- The minimum wage is designed to help people in low-pay service industries.
- Can you help me with my homework?
- Many people inadvertently help thieves by leaving keys in full view.
- He had actively helped many prisoners to escape.
- Lavender oil supposedly helps you sleep.
- The exhibition helped her establish herself as an artist.
- Therapy helped her overcome her fear.
- We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle.
- I need contacts that could help in finding a job.
- We must all try and help each other.
- Many people are willing to give their own time to help the community.
- The students helped to raise £750 for the national appeal.
- We're helping to create a healthier, better future for everyone.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- a bit
- a little
- …
- be able to
- can
- be unable to
- …
- across
- into
- out of
- …
- help somebody to their feet
- a way of helping
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The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app
- [intransitive, transitive] to improve a situation; to make it easier for something to happen
- 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.
Extra Examples- His statement hardly helped his case.
- The music really helps the scene work.
- I thought a walk would help somehow.
- Intense guilt won't necessarily help here.
- The whole process was greatly helped by the widespread availability of computers.
- Correct breathing helps to clear the mind and reduce tension.
- The new service helped boost pre-tax profits by 10%.
- The study of the present also helps to illuminate the past.
- Think of some questions that will help focus the discussion.
- Iron helps in the formation of red blood cells.
- It helps immensely that he has cast good actors.
- efforts to help bridge the gap between those who have access to the internet and those who don't
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- considerably
- dramatically
- enormously
- …
- be designed to
- in
- [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.
Extra Examples- He gently helped her back into the chair.
- She helped the man out of the car.
- I helped her across the road.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- a bit
- a little
- …
- be able to
- can
- be unable to
- …
- across
- into
- out of
- …
- help somebody to their feet
- a way of helping
- [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?
- [transitive] help yourself to something (informal, disapproving) to take something without permission synonym steal
- He'd been helping himself to the money in the cash register.
make easier/better
somebody to move
give food/drink
steal
Word OriginOld English helpan (verb), help (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch helpen and German helfen.
Idioms
See help in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee help in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishsomebody cannot help (doing) something | somebody cannot help but do something
- used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid something
- I can't help thinking he knows more than he has told us.
- He can’t help being ugly.
- She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.
- It couldn't be helped (= there was no way of avoiding it and we must accept it).
- He never does more work than he can help (= he does as little as possible).
- I always end up having an argument with her, I don't know why, I just can't help it.
- I couldn't help it if the bus was late (= it wasn't my fault).
- She burst out laughing—she couldn't help herself (= couldn't stop herself).
- She won’t be invited again, not if I can help it (= if I can do anything to prevent it).
give/lend a helping hand
- to help somebody
God/Heaven help somebody
- (informal) used to say that you are afraid somebody will be in danger or that something bad will happen to them
- God help us if this doesn't work.
so help me (God)
- used to swear that what you are saying is true, especially in a court of law
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help