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
Dark matter has never been detected, but it is believed to make up 85% of the total matter in the universe and help hold stars and galaxies in stable orbits. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Will Smith will be returning this week after a prolonged absence, and that will help, but not enough. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
The mix of argan and avocado oils helps support firmness and elasticity, while glycerin and shea butter help plump and smooth. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 The Conway Police Department has requested the Arkansas State Police's help in the investigation of a man who died while in its custody during the weekend. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 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
  • This time, each space will have trained advisers on site from open to close to assist customers.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Amazon originally conceived of the idea to assist with labeling reams of data on its sprawling webstore, The New York Times reported.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of assist
Verb
  • He was appointed as a special advisor for water infrastructure after last year’s rupture and prepared a report for the government on improvements to alleviate the island’s water problems.
    — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But the Cloaca Maxima was primarily designed to drain marshland and alleviate flooding.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • The problem is, Isolde is very busy with work, so Ry is often left to herself with four alarms a day to take medication to prevent seizures.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Shingles, which can cause painful rashes, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, can be prevented by getting the two-dose vaccine, which is about 90% effective in the elderly.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of prevent
Verb
  • On Tuesday local time, the US semiconductor sector faced a sharp sell-off, with chip and memory stocks that had previously benefited heavily from the AI surge leading the declines and pulling the broader market down.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • So competition did not fail; utilities benefit too much from the status quo.
    — Joshua Macey, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of benefit
Verb
  • Pawloski said Amazon seemed to invest fewer resources into improving MTurk at the same time as more data labeling services arrived, causing many turkers to shift to competing platforms.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This non-greasy, lightweight formula improves scalp health to promote healthy, thicker, and faster hair growth.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of improve
Noun
  • Among the things the neighborhood would stand to benefit from, De La Torre said, are financial and legal support for street vendors who keep the commerce district alive, drug treatment programs, and housing assistance.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The assistance, which helps pay for basic needs such as housing and food, would nearly double under a new policy.
    — Ted Hesson, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistance
Noun
  • The Democrats are in their own civil war, which are giving Republicans an opportunity that historically gives them advantage in this election a problem.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Christian Cage took advantage with a low blow on Matt from behind.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • Every single practice, right after the position meetings, Coach Reid and his staff come back.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The smell of freshly ground espresso and incense fills the air, and staff speak to patients in hushed, discreet tones, almost as if discussing state secrets.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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