The airplane used a rocket motor to assist with takeoff.
Source: tatoeba (44347)
Assist
/əˈsɪst/
Synonyms for "assist" (246 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (50)
Noun(20 words)
aidassistancehelpabettingaccommodatingact supportivelyadvantagingaid campaignaidesaidsallyassisted trimassistingbackingbellhopsbenefactbenefitingbenefitsbuddiescaddie
Verb(12 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (73)
Verb(14 words)
caddiedchip inconducesconnect with peerscontributescooperatedcooperateseasesfacilitatedfacilitatesguide learnershelp outhelpedlend
Noun(27 words)
caddycare forchaperonechaperoningclassmate supportclerkingcomfortingconciergescontributecontributioncooperatingcooperative taskcopilotsdigestion aidingfacilitatefacilitate a policy workshopfacilitate group readingfacilitatingfamily supportfoster school belonging
Adjective(2 words)
certain benefitguided study
Related words (123)
Verb(21 words)
maintain supportabilitymidwifedmuck inobligeobligesoutreachedpitch inprovide serviceprovide supportrelievesserveservicedsuccoredsuccoringsupportedsupportingtidedvaletedwait onwaits
Show 1 more word
Noun(55 words)
math pedagogy termmidwifesmidwifingmidwivingministerministeringministersnursingpassplaymakingproblem solving aidprovide resourcesreduce academic inarticulacyresourceromanian a cooperascaffoldscaffolded flexible approachscaffolded reading strategyscaffoldingservice
Show 35 more words
service coalitionservice pond ecosystemsservice valueservicesservicingservingsidekickssparesspeech aidingspottingstate resident aidsteadying handsuccorssuccoursupportsupport forcesupport forcessupport native language usesupport networksupport systemsupporting elementsupporting resultsupporting servicessupportstide overtoiletingtooltroubleshootingtrussvaletvaletingvolunteervolunteer termvolunteer workvolunteering
Adjective(6 words)
Determiner(2 words)
more network servicemore support
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: aid, assistance, help, help, abet.
- Sentence evidence is available for assist, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "assist".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "assist"
Keep "assist" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "assist" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "assist", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "assist" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
16 entriesbaseball assistbasketball assistcalculatorcoachingemotional supportfinancial aidgoal assistmentoringpractice sheetsoccer assiststudy guidetechnical assistancethrough passtutoringtutoring aidvisual aid
Collocations
12 entriesassist programassist recordassist statisticsassist totalassistance programassistance providedassistance requestedassistive deviceassistive technologybasketball assiststudent assistanceteacher assistant
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
The best efforts of the human race, in addition, were necessary to assist the gods in their cosmic task.
Source: tatoeba (53998)
I would like you to assist me with my gardening.
Source: tatoeba (71037)
I often assist my sister to do her homework.
Source: tatoeba (253893)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "assist"?
Closest matches include aid, assistance, help, help, abet.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "assist"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.