helped

7 definitions • 11 examples

past simple and past participle of

to make it possible or easier for someone to do something, by doing part of the work yourself or by providing advice, money, support, etc.:

How can I help you?

I wonder if you could help me - I'd like some information about flights to New Zealand.

help with My dad said he would help with the costs of (= give part of the cost of) buying a house.

[ + obj + (to) infinitive ] The $10,000 loan from the bank helped her (to) start her own business.

I feel that learning English will help (= improve) my chances of promotion at work.

Nothing can help her now (= her situation is too bad for anyone to be able to improve it).

If something helps a difficult or painful situation, it improves it or makes it easier or less painful:

The morphine didn't seem to help (the pain).

If something or someone helps to do something, that thing or person is one of several reasons for it happening:

help (to) The drought has helped (to) make this a disastrous year for Somalia.

If you can't/couldn't help something, such as acting in a particular way or making a particular remark, you are/were not able to control or stop it:

It was awful, but I couldn't help laughing.

to give something to someone:

help someone to Can I help you to some more soup?

to take something for yourself:

"Might I have some more bread?" "Please, help yourself!"