{
    "term": "help",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "help",
            "heSheIt": "helps"
        },
        "pastSimple": "helped",
        "pastParticiple": "helped",
        "ingForm": "helping"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to make it easier or possible for somebody to do something by doing something for them or by giving them something that they need",
            "sensetop": "help with somethinghelp somebodyhelp somebody with somethinghelp in doing somethinghelp somebody (to) do somethinghelp (to) do something",
            "labels": "(informal or North American English)(British English or formal, North American English)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What can I do to help?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was only **trying to help**!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He always helps with the housework.",
                    "contextForm": "help with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are trying their best to do a good job and help others.",
                    "contextForm": "help somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Jo will help us with some of the organization.",
                    "contextForm": "help somebody with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Following these steps will help in protecting our environment.",
                    "contextForm": "help in doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Come and help me lift this box.",
                    "contextForm": "help somebody (to) do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This charity aims to help people to help themselves."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The college's aim is to help students achieve their aspirations."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She helped organize the party.",
                    "contextForm": "help (to) do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some history may help to explain why this is."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm afraid I can't help you."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My mother helps me a lot."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Talking to a counsellor helped her enormously."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The minimum wage is designed to help people in low-pay service industries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can you help me with my homework?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people inadvertently help thieves by leaving keys in full view."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had actively helped many prisoners to escape."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lavender oil supposedly helps you sleep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The exhibition helped her establish herself as an artist."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Therapy helped her overcome her fear."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I need contacts that could help in finding a job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We must all try and help each other."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people are willing to give their own time to help the community."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The students helped to raise £750 for the national appeal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're helping to create a healthier, better future for everyone."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Social issues"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["a lot", "a bit", "a little"],
                "verb + help": ["be able to", "can", "be unable to"],
                "preposition": ["across", "into", "out of"],
                "phrases": ["help somebody to their feet", "a way of helping"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to improve a situation; to make it easier for something to happen",
            "sensetop": "it helps (doing something)it helps that…help towards somethinghelp somethinghelp (to) do something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The support of our families has **helped enormously**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It helped being able to talk about it.",
                    "contextForm": "it helps (doing something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It **certainly helped** that her father is a duke!",
                    "contextForm": "it helps that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The money raised will help towards *(= partly pay for)* the cost of organizing the championships.",
                    "contextForm": "help towards something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It doesn't really **help matters** knowing that everyone is talking about us.",
                    "contextForm": "help something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This should help to reduce the pain.",
                    "contextForm": "help (to) do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need new measures to help fight terrorism."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His statement hardly helped his case."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The music really helps the scene work."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I thought a walk would help somehow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Intense guilt won't necessarily help here."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The whole process was greatly helped by the widespread availability of computers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Correct breathing helps to clear the mind and reduce tension."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new service helped boost pre-tax profits by 10%."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The study of the present also helps to illuminate the past."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Think of some questions that will help focus the discussion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Iron helps in the formation of red blood cells."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It helps immensely that he has cast good actors."
                },
                {
                    "text": "efforts to help bridge the gap between those who have access to the internet and those who don't"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["considerably", "dramatically", "enormously"],
                "verb + help": ["be designed to"],
                "preposition": ["in"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to help somebody move or do some other action by letting them lean on you, guiding them, etc.",
            "sensetop": "help somebody + adv./prep.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She helped him to his feet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We were helped ashore by local people."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He gently helped her back into the chair."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She helped the man out of the car."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I helped her across the road."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["a lot", "a bit", "a little"],
                "verb + help": ["be able to", "can", "be unable to"],
                "preposition": ["across", "into", "out of"],
                "phrases": ["help somebody to their feet", "a way of helping"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to give yourself/somebody food, drinks, etc.",
            "sensetop": "help yourselfhelp yourself/somebody to something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If you want another drink, just help yourself.",
                    "contextForm": "help yourself"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can I help you to some more salad?",
                    "contextForm": "help yourself/somebody to something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to take something without permission",
            "sensetop": "help yourself to something",
            "labels": "(informal, disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He'd been helping himself to the money in the cash register."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "steal"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I can't help thinking he knows more than he has told us."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He can’t help being shy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**It couldn't be helped** *(= there was no way of avoiding it and we must accept it)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He never does more work than he can help *(= he does as little as possible)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I always end up having an argument with her, I don't know why, I just **can't help it**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I couldn't help it if the bus was late *(= it wasn't my fault)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She burst out laughing—she **couldn't help herself** *(= couldn't stop herself)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She won’t be invited again, **not if I can help it** *(= if I can do anything to prevent it)*."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to help somebody",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that you are afraid somebody will be in danger or that something bad will happen to them",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "God help us if this doesn't work."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Danger"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to swear that what you are saying is true, especially in a court of law",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/help/",
                "audio": "he/help/help__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/helps/",
                "audio": "he/help/helps__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/helpt/",
                "audio": "he/help/helped__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈhelpɪŋ/",
                "audio": "he/help/helping__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/help/",
                "audio": "he/help/help__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/helps/",
                "audio": "he/help/helps__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/helpt/",
                "audio": "he/help/helped__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈhelpɪŋ/",
                "audio": "he/help/helping__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English helpan (verb), help (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch helpen and German helfen."
}