helping

[hel-ping] / ˈhɛl pɪŋ /

NOUN

portion of food

Synonyms

STRONG

allowance course dollop meal order piece plateful ration serving share

Antonyms

STRONG

whole

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for 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).

What can you say instead of helping others?

The phrase helping others is commonly used as a general way of referring to helping people or performing acts of charity. Volunteering is a common way of helping others. Other general terms include providing aid/assistance/support. But if you want to be more specific, such as on a resume, you can always use more specific descriptions of the kind of help you have provided, as in Volunteering experience includes serving food at the soup kitchen and providing free counseling services.

How do you use helping in a sentence?

Helping is a very common word that can be used in many different contexts and situations. Here are some examples of helping in a sentence:

My grandma gave me two helpings of meatloaf.
I was very grateful to my coworker for helping me make more friends at work.
The initiative was created with the intention of helping the people who do not have access to healthcare.

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.

See Examples For:

helping helpings

A number of Styles’ most committed fans work side gigs on top of their 9-to-5 to earn extra money for extra shows: dog walking, babysitting, or helping brands with their social media and digital marketing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Drugs sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound can produce substantial weight loss while helping patients control blood sugar.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

McMahon said parents should be able to object when they believe AI isn’t helping their children, while acknowledging schools are still learning what effective AI education looks like.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

After retiring in 2022, Cannom volunteered at the John Wesley Clinic in downtown Los Angeles, helping the homeless and underserved communities who might not otherwise receive cardiac care.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Jonah and I got roped into helping when they didn’t have enough volunteers during the summer before sixth grade.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Restaurants tend to charge more for extra helpings of meat, and can price innovations, like Starbucks’s protein cold foam at around $2, at a premium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

Over glasses of tea and helpings of baklava, I ask if he and his family would move back.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

Those are solid results, considering the funds’ big helpings of bonds—the safety-first shock absorbers that make up a big part of their appeal to cautious investors.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2025

Large helpings of camp and melodrama propel grisly tales of ghoulish behavior.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024

The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of everything.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

Vocabulary lists containing helping

"Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!