Aid Meaning
/eɪd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounHelp; assistance; succor, relief.
nounA helper; an assistant.
Sentence Examples
The House cut the budget for foreign aid.
I need first aid.
The test is designed to aid in the diagnosis of various diseases.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Red Cross provides medical ____ to disaster victims around the world.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organization provides ____ to victims of the natural disaster.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English aide, eide, ayde, from Old French eide, aide, from aidier, from Latin adiūtō, adiūtāre (“to assist, help”). Cognates include Spanish ayuda, Portuguese ajuda and Italian aiuto.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An unconstitutional method of obtaining aid."
— 1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
"“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”"
— 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"Musk said he checked with Trump “a few times” and Trump confirmed he wants to shut down the agency, which dispenses billions in humanitarian aid and development funding annually."
— 2025 February 2, Jennifer Hansler and Alex Marquardt, “Senior USAID security officials put on leave after attempting to refuse Musk’s DOGE access to agency systems”, in CNN:
"It is not good that man should bee alone, let vs make vnto him an aide like to himselfe."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Tobit 8:6:
"The human is so poorly designed for aquatic adventures that he cannot even see in the water without artificial aids."
— 1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 16:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Red Cross provides medical ____ to disaster victims around the world.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organization provides ____ to victims of the natural disaster.