Definitions

lend a hand

VERB

aid

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abet alleviate assist encourage promote subsidize

STRONG

befriend benefact favor lighten mitigate relieve serve sustain

WEAK

bail out go to bat for go with open doors for stick up for straighten out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deter discourage hinder hurt

STRONG

burden upset

WEAK

block impede injure obstruct

VERB

assist

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aid back benefit boost cooperate expedite facilitate reinforce support sustain take care of

STRONG

abet collaborate further hype plug puff push relieve serve stump thump

WEAK

bail out do for give a boost give a leg up give a lift go down the line for go for go to bat for go with grease the wheels make a pitch for open doors put on the map ride shotgun root for run interference for stand up for work for work with

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block check delay discourage halt handicap hinder hurt impede injure obstruct prevent stop undermine

STRONG

conceal frustrate hide

WEAK

thwart

VERB

cooperate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist collaborate comply with conspire contribute coordinate further help participate unite uphold

STRONG

abet advance agree band befriend coincide combine concert concur conduce espouse forward league partner second succor

WEAK

back up be in cahoots chip in coadjute give-and-take go along with join forces join in pitch in play ball pool resources pull together share in show willingness side with stick together take part work side by side work together

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block check counteract disagree harm hinder hurt obstruct oppose protest stop

STRONG

differ halt impede reject

WEAK

delay disturb encumber prevent

VERB

do for

Synonyms

WEAK

abet aid assist benefact care for help out look after provide for steady support

Antonyms

WEAK

bear deny refuse

VERB

further

Synonyms

STRONGEST

encourage expedite facilitate hasten help promote speed

STRONG

aid assist ballyhoo champion contribute engender forward foster generate patronize plug propagate push serve succor

WEAK

back up bail out give a boost to go with open doors take care of work for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block check delay halt hinder hurt slow stop

STRONG

conceal destroy discourage hide ignore impede kill neglect oppose take withhold

WEAK

cease curtail frustrate obstruct prevent protest

VERB

help

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back benefit bolster boost cooperate encourage further maintain promote push save serve stimulate support

STRONG

abet accommodate advocate ballyhoo befriend cheer endorse hype intercede patronize plug prop puff relieve sanction second succor sustain uphold

WEAK

be of use buck up do a favor do a service do one's part go to bat for go with open doors root for see through stand by stick up for stump for take under one's wing work for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block condemn delay depress discourage dissuade halt harm hinder hurt impede neglect obstruct prevent refuse stop undermine

STRONG

conceal disapprove frustrate hide ignore oppose protest

WEAK

check counteract decrease injure worsen

VERB

participate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aid compete cooperate engage engage in perform play share

STRONG

concur partake strive

WEAK

associate with be a participant be a party to be into chip in come in enter into get in on get in on the act go into have a hand in have to do with join in latch on sit in sit in on take an interest in tune in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block direct hinder impede obstruct prevent stop

WEAK

observe watch

VERB

pitch in

Synonyms

STRONGEST

come through get going

WEAK

aid attack begin buckle down chip in commence contribute contribute work cooperate do do one's bit fall to get busy get cracking go to it help hop to it join in jump in launch participate plunge into set about set to subscribe tackle tee off volunteer wade in

Antonyms

WEAK

hinder hurt prevent

VERB

reinforce

Synonyms

STRONGEST

add to bolster boost build up buttress emphasize enlarge fortify increase shore up stress support underline

STRONG

carry energize harden hype multiply prop stiffen stroke supplement sustain toughen

WEAK

add fuel to fire back up beef up heat up pick up pillar prop up punch up soup up stand up for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decrease diminish discourage hinder hurt lessen let down play down prevent reduce undermine weaken

STRONG

liquefy melt soften

WEAK

subtract take away

VERB

step in

Synonyms

WEAK

arrive be invited chip in come enter intercede interfere intermediate interpose intervene mediate negotiate take action

Antonyms

WEAK

abandon leave wash hands

VERB

sustain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assist bolster buoy continue defend help nurse preserve save

STRONG

aid approve back bankroll bear befriend brace buttress carry comfort confirm convey endorse favor feed foster lug nourish nurture pack prolong prop protract ratify relieve supply support tote transfer transport uphold validate verify

WEAK

go for keep alive keep from falling keep going provide for shore up stand by stick up for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

harm hinder hurt obstruct stop

STRONG

abbreviate condemn contradict deny deprive disagree disapprove discourage disprove hold ignore injure invalidate keep let down let go maintain neglect oppose refuse reject shorten starve take trouble veto weaken

WEAK

abstain discontinue halt

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But she will not be roping in her mum, Liz, to help out despite the former world 10,000m champion being desperate to step in and lend a hand.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

When Jennifer Arnold learned one of her neighbors in the midwestern city of Minneapolis had been arrested by immigration authorities late last year, she reached out to lend a hand.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

Members of the Sunrise Church in Rialto, who had shown up to lend a hand, were carrying out bucket after bucket.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2025

Almost all lend a hand on an ongoing basis, whether contributing to savings accounts, setting up trusts or defraying the costs of college tuition, medical bills and other expenses.

From Salon • May 11, 2025

All the campesinos had run off, and there wasn’t a neighbor willing to lend a hand.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

lend a hand

Example Sentences

Related Words