• enPR: hĕlp, IPA: /hɛlp/
• (Southern US, AAVE, dated) enPR: hĕp, IPA: /hɛp/

From Middle English help, from Old English help, from Proto-Germanic *helpō, *hilpiz, *hulpiz, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelb-, *ḱelp-.

Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hälpe, Western Frisian help, Dutch hulp, Low German Hülp, German Hilfe, Danish hjælp, Swedish hjälp, Norwegian hjelp.

help (uncountable)

1. (uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.

   I need some help with my homework.

2. Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.

   He was a great help to me when I was moving house.

3. (computing) Documentation provided with computer software that could be accessed using the computer.

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

4. (countable) A study aid.

   I've printed out a list of math helps.

5. (usually, uncountable) 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.

6. (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.”

• (action given to provide assistance) aid, assistance

• French: aide, secours
• German: Hilfe
• Italian: aiuto, ausilio
• Portuguese: ajuda, socorro, auxílio
• Russian: по́мощь
• Spanish: ayuda, socorro, auxilio

• French: auxiliaire, aide
• German: Hilfe
• Portuguese: ajudante, servente
• Russian: помо́щник

• French: aide
• Portuguese: criado, criada
• Russian: помо́щник

• French: aide
• German: Hilfe
• Portuguese: arquivo de ajuda

From Middle English helpen, from Old English helpan, from Proto-West Germanic *helpan, Proto-Germanic *helpaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelb-, *ḱelp-.

Cognate with Western Frisian helpe, Dutch helpen, Low German helpen, hölpen, German helfen, Danish hjælpe, Norwegian hjelpe, Lithuanian šelpti.

help (helps, present participle helping; simple past and past participle helped)

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

   He helped his grandfather cook breakfast.

2. (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.

3. (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.

4. (intransitive) To provide assistance.

   She was struggling with the groceries, so I offered to help.

   Please, help!

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗:

     As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.

5. (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!

   She never does more than she can help.

6. (Hong Kong) To do something on the behalf of someone.

   Can you help me buy some groceries?

• (provide assistance to) aid, assist, come to someone's aid, help out; See also Thesaurus:help
• (contribute in some way to) contribute to
• (provide assistance) assist; See also Thesaurus:assist

• French: aider, secourir
• German: helfen
• Italian: aiutare
• Portuguese: ajudar, socorrer
• Russian: помога́ть
• Spanish: ayudar

• French: aider
• German: helfen
• Portuguese: ajudar
• Russian: помога́ть

• French: aider
• Italian: aiutare
• Portuguese: ajudar, auxiliar
• Russian: помога́ть

• French: éviter, prévenir, empêcher

1. A cry of distress or an urgent request for assistance

   — Take that, you scoundrel.
   — Help! Robin, help! (Robin Hood (1973))

2. (Internet slang, text messaging) A way to signal uncontrollable laughter; implying the risk of dying of laughter and needing assistance.

   helpppp that's too funny, did she rlly say that?

• French: au secours, à l’aide, à moi, à nous
• German: Hilfe, zu Hilfe
• Italian: aiuto
• Portuguese: socorro
• Russian: помоги́те
• Spanish: socorro, auxilio, ayuda

help (uncountable)

1. Initialism of heat escape lessening position: a crouching position with the knees held close to the chest, used to conserve body heat in cold water.