Meaning & use
assist in
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Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
to help with a job, activity, or process.
Grammar: Usually followed by a noun or an -ing verb: assist in the search / assist in finding a solution. Can also stand alone: We are happy to assist.
Patterns
- assist in something
- assist in doing something
- assist someone in something
The whole team assisted in the preparations for the conference.
Can you assist in writing the report by Friday?
She assisted the police in their investigation.
Common combinations
- assist in the investigation
- The witness agreed to assist in the investigation.
- assist in the preparation
- Volunteers assisted in the preparation of meals for the homeless.
- assist in the search
- Drones were used to assist in the search for the missing hiker.
- assist in the development
- The grant will assist in the development of new teaching materials.
Synonyms and how they differ
- help
- More general and informal; 'help' can be used with or without 'in' (help with the work / help in the work), while 'assist in' is a bit more formal.
- aid
- Often used in official or medical contexts; 'aid in' is similar to 'assist in' but sounds slightly more formal.
- support
- Focuses on giving encouragement or resources rather than doing part of the work; 'assist in' suggests active participation.
Opposites
Word family
- assistance noun
- The act of helping; often used in phrases like 'give assistance'.
- assistant noun
- A person who helps someone else, especially at work.
Commonly confused: assist in or assist with?
assist in vs assist with
'Assist with' is followed by a noun (assist with the cooking), while 'assist in' is often followed by an -ing verb (assist in cooking). Both are correct but the pattern differs.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'assist in' correctly?
Choose one answer.
After 'assist in', use an -ing verb: 'assist in organizing'. Option A has 'to organize' after 'in', which is not grammatical. Option C uses the base form 'organize' without 'to' or '-ing', which is also wrong. Option D uses 'for', which does not fit the pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “assist in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.