Help | Mean of help in English Dictionary

/ˈhɛlp/

• Verb
• to do something that makes it easier for someone to do a job, to deal with a problem, etc.
1. Let me help you with that box. = Let me help you lift/carry that box.
2. help a child with her homework = help a child (to) do her homework
3. I helped her up/down the stairs. [=I gave her support so that she could go up/down the stairs]
4. Help me! I'm drowning!
5. Don't blame me: I was only trying to help!
6. She helped (to) set the table.
7. Help! Somebody call the police!
• to make something less severe
1. Rest helps a cold.
2. She took an aspirin to help her headache.
3. Some color would really help [=improve] this room.
4. Humor often helps a tense situation.
5. Yelling doesn't help.
6. It's not much money, but every little bit helps.
7. It helps to know you care. [=I feel better because I know that you care]
• to give (yourself or another person) food or drink
1. There's plenty of food, so help yourself. [=take as much food as you would like]
2. He helped his neighbor to a glass of wine.
3. Help yourself to whatever you'd like.

• to take something for (yourself) without permission
1. He saw the money lying on the table, and he helped himself. [=he took the money]
2. He helped himself to the money.
• to do something that makes it easier for (someone) to put on or take off (clothing, shoes, etc.)
1. Let me help you off with your boots.
2. He helped her on with her coat.
• to do something so another person's job or task is easier
1. I can't do this myself. Won't someone please help me out?
2. I sometimes help out in the kitchen.
3. He helped out with the bills whenever he could. [=he helped pay the bills whenever he could]
• Noun
• activities or efforts that make it easier to do a job, deal with a problem, etc.
1. He thanked us for our help.
2. I could use some help with the dishes.
3. We could hear shouts for help coming from the house.
4. a help menu/screen [=a part of a computer program that gives instructions and information about how to use the program]
• something (such as money or advice) that is given to someone who needs it
1. I couldn't have bought this house without financial help. [=without money given to me by someone else]
2. She is very unhappy and needs some serious/professional help. [=she should see a counselor or psychologist to help her with her problems]
• someone or something that makes it easier to do a job, deal with a problem, etc.
1. She has always been a real help (to me) in times of trouble.
2. He's been more of a hindrance than a help.
• the fact of being useful to someone
1. You've been (of) no help at all to me. [=you haven't helped me at all]
• the state of being helped
1. Is there any help for us? [=is there anything that can be done to help us?]
2. The situation is beyond help. [=nothing can be done to improve the situation]
3. (Brit) There was no help for it but to tell her parents. [=there was no way to avoid telling her parents]
• servants or paid workers
1. We need to hire additional help.
2. The help have already left for the day.
3. It's hard to find good help.
4. (US) I looked through the help wanted ads. [=the part of the newspaper in which jobs are advertised]