help noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of help noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

help

noun
 
/help/
 
/help/
Idioms
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    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.
    see also self-help
    Extra Examples
    • He enlisted the help of a private detective in his search for the truth.
    • He rudely rejected her kind offer of help.
    • He'll need help with this homework.
    • He's too proud to accept help.
    • I really appreciate your help.
    • Police are appealing for help in catching the killers.
    • The homeless centre relies entirely on voluntary help.
    • The system is based on mutual help rather than on payment for services.
    • They had substantial help from farmers.
    • With a little help, I think I could fix the computer myself.
    • The college will no longer have to close, thanks to the help of private investment.
    Topics Social issuesa1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • enormous
    verb + help
    • get
    • have
    • receive
    help + verb
    • arrive
    • come
    • be at hand
    help + noun
    • desk
    • line
    • menu
    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
    See full entry
  2. for somebody in danger

  3. [uncountable] the act of helping somebody who is in danger
    • Quick, get help!
    • She screamed for help.
    • I heard a cry for help.
    Extra Examples
    • Don't panic—help is at hand.
    • He lay injured for four hours before help arrived.
    • He ran to get help.
    • Bad behaviour in adolescents can sometimes be a cry for help.
    • I opened the window and called for help.
    Topics Dangera1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • enormous
    verb + help
    • get
    • have
    • receive
    help + verb
    • arrive
    • come
    • be at hand
    help + noun
    • desk
    • line
    • menu
    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
    See full entry
  4. advice/money

  5. [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.
    Extra Examples
    • The training centre provides special help for the long-term unemployed.
    • Your advice was a great help to me.
    • Is there any extra help for disabled students?
    • Local teachers provided invaluable help in developing the material.
    • Some of the injured animals were beyond help and had to be destroyed.
    • Teachers have little time to give individual help to students.
    • The careers officer gives direct help as well as advice.
    • The family's request for help went unanswered.
    • The man was clearly in need of urgent medical help.
    • This is the first scheme to offer real help to working mothers.
    Topics Suggestions and advicea2, Social issuesa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • enormous
    verb + help
    • get
    • have
    • receive
    help + verb
    • arrive
    • come
    • be at hand
    help + noun
    • desk
    • line
    • menu
    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
    See full entry
  6. on a computer/phone, etc.

  7. [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
  8. being useful

  9. [uncountable] the fact of 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!
    Extra Examples
    • We broke open the lock with the help of a hammer.
    • With the help of a ladder, neighbours were able to rescue the children from the blaze.
    • The manual is too technical to be of help to the inexperienced user.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • enormous
    verb + help
    • get
    • have
    • receive
    help + verb
    • arrive
    • come
    • be at hand
    help + noun
    • desk
    • line
    • menu
    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
    See full entry
  10. person/thing

  11. [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!
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • enormous
    verb + help
    • get
    • have
    • receive
    help + verb
    • arrive
    • come
    • be at hand
    help + noun
    • desk
    • line
    • menu
    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
    See full entry
  12. in house

  13. the help
    [uncountable + singular or plural verb] (especially North American English) the person or people employed by somebody to clean their house, etc. see also home help
  14. Word OriginOld English helpan (verb), help (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch helpen and German helfen.
Idioms
there is no help for it
  1. (especially British English) it is not possible to avoid doing something that may harm somebody in some way
    • There's no help for it. We shall have to call the police.
See help in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee help in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
aspiration
noun
 
 
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