helping

1 of 2

noun

help·​ing ˈhel-piŋ How to pronounce helping (audio)
Synonyms of helpingnext
1
: a portion of food : serving
2
: dose sense 3
… large helpings of reportage and interviews.—Stefan Kanfer

helping

2 of 2

present participle of help entry 1

Examples of helping in a Sentence

Noun He had two helpings of carrots. Can I give you a second helping?
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Her looks often incorporated classic country motifs like cowboy hats or bell-bottom jeans, though usually made Dolly-appropriate with a healthy helping of sparkles and vibrant hues. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Cheese, Greek and kale pizzas are customer favorites, or cozy up to a nostalgic helping of lasagna, made with ricotta and mozzarella cheese with marinara or Bolognese sauce. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 How one’s meal is eaten is up to each diner, but Quintana and the cooks in the kitchen eat it like a taco, putting chunks of the meat, a spoonful of rice and salsa and a helping of the onions into a tortilla. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Prepare for a generous helping of pleasures at the dim sum table. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helping

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of helping was in 1866

Phrases Containing helping

Rhymes for helping

See All Rhymes for helping

Browse Nearby Words

helpfulness
helping
helping card
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Helping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helping. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

helping

noun
help·​ing ˈhel-piŋ How to pronounce helping (audio)
: a portion of food : serving

More from Merriam-Webster on helping

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for helping

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