help

I UK [help] / US verb
Word forms "help":
present tense I/you/we/they help he/she/it helps present participle helping past tense helped past participle helped
***

Get it right: help:

The verb help is not used with the -ing form of another verb. It is used with the infinitive (with or without "to") in any of these patterns: ▪  help do something ▪  help to do something ▪  help someone do something ▪  help someone to do something
Wrong: Foreign tourists can help revitalizing our economy.
Right: Foreign tourists can help revitalize our economy.
Right: Foreign tourists can help to revitalize our economy.
Wrong: Banning smoking in restaurants may help people avoiding the risk of illness.
Right: Banning smoking in restaurants may help people avoid the risk of illness.
Right: Banning smoking in restaurants may help people to avoid the risk of illness. The -ing form is only used with help in the fixed expression can't help doing something: I can't help thinking that they should have informed the police.
Metaphor:
Helping people is like supporting them physically, for example with your body or with something that you build. You can rely on their support. ♦ You can always lean on me. ♦ I need someone to hold my hand – I can't do it on my own. ♦ I need a shoulder to cry on. ♦ Let me lend a hand. ♦ They gave me a helping hand/a leg-up. ♦ She put her life in their hands. ♦ The government stepped in to prop/shore up the fishing industry. ♦ They made some constructive comments/suggestions. ♦ She's a pillar of the community. ➡ responsibility

1) [intransitive/transitive] to give someone support or information so that they can do something more easily

If you are finding that difficult, I could help you.

Mary was anxious to help.

help someone (to) do something:

Can you help me find my glasses?

help someone with something:

Her brother offered to help her with her homework.

help someone through something:

They helped me through a very difficult time.

2) [transitive] to support someone when they move from one position to another or when they do some other action

I'll help you to the door.

Can I help you off with your coat (= help you to take it off)?

3) [transitive] to give someone something, especially food or drink

help someone to something:

Can I help you to more vegetables?

help yourself to something (= take some of it):

Help yourselves to more wine.

4)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to make a situation better

More police officers on the streets would help.

Organic farming methods help the environment.

b) to make it easier to achieve something

help (to) do something:

The new measure will help boost trade.

We hope this helps to clarify the situation.

help towards:

Further study will help towards a better understanding of the problem.

•

cannot/can't help something — used for saying that someone cannot stop themselves doing something; someone cannot/can't help it if used for saying that someone cannot be blamed for a situation; it cannot/can't be helped there is no way of preventing something from happening; not if someone can help it used for saying that someone is trying to avoid something that they do not like doing

She couldn't help laughing when she saw it.

I shouldn't have said it but I couldn't help myself.

can't help thinking (= have good reason for thinking):

I couldn't help thinking he was asking for trouble.

She could not help it if her emotions took charge of her.

It can't be helped, we'll just have to manage without her.

They never go there if they can help it.

- help yourself

- help yourself to something

Phrasal verbs:

- help along

- help out

II UK [help] / US noun ***

1) [uncountable] the process of helping someone or what you do to help someone

help with:

Do you want some help with that?

Police have appealed for help from anyone who may have information.

We're very grateful for their help.

get/find/seek help:

They need to get help, don't they?

You can get special help if somebody's disabled.

help with:

Molly now needs help with any heavy housework.

with the help of:

She'll survive with the help of her supporters.

2)

a) [singular/uncountable] a person or thing that helps

You've been a real help to me, Carrie.

Aircraft medical kits aren't much help in dealing with a collapsed lung.

It's a great help to know I can rely on you.

That information won't be of any help to them.

A great help you've been (= no help at all)!

b) a person or people that someone pays to work for them in their house

We don't have any domestic help just now.

3) [uncountable] part of a computer program that gives you information

Try the help menu.

III UK [help] / US interjection

used for asking for urgent help

Help! I'm going to fall.