helping

Helping has a couple of different meanings, which have different sets of synonyms. Many words don’t have exact synonyms like big is an exact synonym of large, and helping is one of those words.

As a noun (in the context of food)

As a noun, the word helping refers to a portion of food served to one person at one time. Synonyms include serving and portion.

This can refer to another portion of whatever is being served, such as another helping of salad or mashed potatoes or pie.

However, in the context of a meal, helping, serving, and portion all often imply an entire plate’s worth of food (not just a little extra). In this sense, when you get another helping, you fill your plate up again. The word plate can be used to mean the same thing, as in I’m still hungry, so I’m going to the buffet to get another plate.  

In certain settings, such as in a military mess hall, the word for a helping is ration, which implies that there is a limited amount of food to be divided among everyone.

As a verb (the continuous tense of help)

Helping is the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb help, and it can use all the same synonyms that help can, just with -ing added.

Synonyms for helping include aiding, assisting, and supporting.

The word providing is often used in terms meaning the same thing, as in providing help/aid/assistance/support. 

An informal way of saying this is lending a helping hand (in which a helping hand refers to aid or assistance).