əˈsɪst əˈsɪs.təns the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose he gave me an assist with the housework could not walk without assistance rescue party went to their aid offered his help in unloading a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do visual aids in teaching his job was to give technical assistance over the phone gift of money or other material help to support a person or cause economic assistance to depressed areas