Helps vs. Help

Helpsnoun

plural of help

Helpnoun

(uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.

‘I need some help with my homework.’;

Helpnoun

Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.

‘He was a great help to me when I was moving house.’; ‘I've printed out a list of math helps.’;

Helpnoun

Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.

‘I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.’;

Helpnoun

One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.

‘The help is coming round this morning to clean.’; ‘Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.’;

Helpnoun

(uncountable) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.

‘His suicide attempts were a cry for help.’; ‘He really needs help in handling customer complaints.’; ‘“He’s a real road-rager.” / “Yup, he really needs help, maybe anger management.”’;

Helpverb

(transitive) To provide assistance to (someone or something).

‘He helped his grandfather cook breakfast.’;

Helpverb

(transitive) To assist (a person) in getting something, especially food or drink at table; used with to.

‘It is polite to help your guests to food before serving yourself.’; ‘Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge.’;

Helpverb

(transitive) To contribute in some way to.

‘The white paint on the walls helps make the room look brighter.’; ‘If you want to get a job, it helps to have some prior experience.’;

Helpverb

(intransitive) To provide assistance.

‘She was struggling with the groceries, so I offered to help.’; ‘Please, help!’;

Helpverb

(transitive) To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can.

‘We couldn’t help noticing that you were late.’; ‘We couldn’t help but notice that you were late.’; ‘She’s trying not to smile, but she can’t help herself.’; ‘Can I help it if I'm so beautiful?’; ‘Can I help it that I fell in love with you?’; ‘Are they going to beat us?’; ‘Not if I can help it!’;

Helpinterjection

A cry of distress or an urgent request for assistance

Helpverb

To furnish with strength or means for the successful performance of any action or the attainment of any object; to aid; to assist; as, to help a man in his work; to help one to remember; - the following infinitive is commonly used without to; as, "Help me scale yon balcony."

Helpverb

To furnish with the means of deliverance from trouble; as, to help one in distress; to help one out of prison.

Helpverb

To furnish with relief, as in pain or disease; to be of avail against; - sometimes with of before a word designating the pain or disease, and sometimes having such a word for the direct object.

‘The true calamus helps coughs.’;

Helpverb

To change for the better; to remedy.

‘Cease to lament for what thou canst not help.’;

Helpverb

To prevent; to hinder; as, the evil approaches, and who can help it?

Helpverb

To forbear; to avoid.

‘I can not help remarking the resemblance betwixt him and our author.’;

Helpverb

To wait upon, as the guests at table, by carving and passing food.

‘The god of learning and of lightWould want a god himself to help him out.’;

Helpverb

To lend aid or assistance; to contribute strength or means; to avail or be of use; to assist.

‘A generous present helps to persuade, as well as an agreeable person.’;

Helpnoun

Strength or means furnished toward promoting an object, or deliverance from difficulty or distress; aid; ^; also, the person or thing furnishing the aid; as, he gave me a help of fifty dollars.

‘Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man.’; ‘God is . . . a very present help in trouble.’; ‘Virtue is a friend and a help to nature.’;

Helpnoun

Remedy; relief; as, there is no help for it.

Helpnoun

A helper; one hired to help another; also, thew hole force of hired helpers in any business.

Helpnoun

Specifically, a domestic servant, man or woman.

Helpnoun

the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose;

‘he gave me an assist with the housework’; ‘could not walk without assistance’; ‘rescue party went to their aid’; ‘offered his help in unloading’;

Helpnoun

a resource;

‘visual aids in teaching’; ‘economic assistance to depressed areas’;

Helpnoun

a means of serving;

‘of no avail’; ‘there's no help for it’;

Helpnoun

a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose;

‘my invaluable assistant’; ‘they hired additional help to finish the work’;

Helpverb

give help or assistance; be of service;

‘Everyone helped out during the earthquake’; ‘Can you help me carry this table?’; ‘She never helps around the house’;

Helpverb

be of use;

‘This will help to prevent accidents’;

Helpverb

improve the condition of;

‘These pills will help the patient’;

Helpverb

abstain from doing; always used with a negative;

‘I can't help myself--I have to smoke’; ‘She could not help watching the sad spectacle’;

Helpverb

contribute to the furtherance of;

‘This money will help the development of literacy in developing countries’;

Helpverb

improve; change for the better;

‘New slipcovers will help the old living room furniture’;

Helpverb

help to some food; help with food or drink;

‘I served him three times, and after that he helped himself’;

Helpverb

take or use;

‘She helped herself to some of the office supplies’;

Helpverb

make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering them one's services or resources

‘the teenager helped out in the corner shop’; ‘she helped him find a buyer’; ‘they helped her with domestic chores’;

Helpverb

improve (a situation or problem); be of benefit to

‘legislation to fit all new cars with catalytic converters will help’; ‘upbeat comments about prospects helped confidence’;

Helpverb

assist (someone) to move

‘I helped her up’;

Helpverb

assist someone to put on or take off (a garment)

‘she would help him off with his coat’;

Helpverb

serve someone with (food or drink)

‘may I help you to some more meat?’; ‘she helped herself to a biscuit’;

Helpverb

take something without permission

‘he helped himself to the wages she had brought home’;

Helpverb

cannot or could not avoid

‘he couldn't help laughing’; ‘I'm sorry to put you to any inconvenience, but it can't be helped’;

Helpverb

cannot or could not stop oneself from doing something

‘she couldn't help herself; she burst into tears’;

Helpnoun

the action of helping someone to do something

‘I asked for help from my neighbours’;

Helpnoun

the fact of being useful

‘the skimpy manual isn't much help for beginners’;

Helpnoun

a person or thing that helps

‘he was a great help’; ‘she's been given financial help with travel’;

Helpnoun

a domestic employee

‘she has taught herself to cook since the defection of the last of the village helps’; ‘the help cleaned up the leftover food and half-drunk cocktails’;

Helpnoun

giving assistance to a computer user in the form of displayed instructions

‘a help menu’;

Helpinterjection

used as an appeal for urgent assistance

‘Help! I'm drowning!’;