Words / B2

uh-SIST-uh-ns/əˈsɪstəns/

Assistance is help or support, slightly more official than help: financial assistance, assistance with an application. Help is the everyday noun and verb; support can be emotional or practical. Assist is the verb (assist someone with). In speech, help is almost always better. The phrase can I be of assistance? is polite shop and hotel English, not a tutorial.

Meaning

Help or support.

Examples

• “She needed assistance with the application.”
• “She needed assistance with the visa form, not with the essay idea.”
• “Technical assistance arrived after the system froze.”

Good to know

Formal for help. assist someone with. Everyday: help. Close: support. Polite: can I be of assistance?

Near in meaning

help

New