IELTS synonyms

Synonyms for “help” in IELTS

12 alternatives to “help”, each with its part of speech, how it differs in meaning or register, an example sentence and a warning where a blind swap changes what you say. Help is a useful verb, but repeating it makes every argument sound the same. These alternatives say what kind of help you mean, and some have grammar traps: facilitate takes a process, not a person.

Example

assist (verb)

Help, especially with a task; formal. Used with 'with' or 'in'.

Volunteers assist older residents with their shopping.

See all 12 alternatives
  • 12 alternatives
  • Writing Task 2
  • Meaning, register and example
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Written by Fizza Butool Zaidi and Ali Zaidi

12 alternatives

Other words for “help”

  1. 1.assist

    verbWriting

    Help, especially with a task; formal. Used with 'with' or 'in'.

    Volunteers assist older residents with their shopping.

  2. 2.support

    verbWriting and Speaking

    Help over a period, emotionally, financially or practically.

    Governments should support families with the cost of childcare.

  3. 3.aid

    verbWriting

    Help a process; formal.

    Regular sleep aids memory and concentration.

  4. 4.benefit

    verbWriting

    Be good for someone or something.

    A shorter working week would benefit employees' health.

  5. 5.enable

    verbWriting

    Make it possible for someone to do something; enable + person + to.

    Online courses enable working adults to study in the evening.

  6. 6.facilitate

    verbWriting

    Make a process easier; formal.

    Shared office spaces facilitate collaboration between start-ups.

    Don't swap blindly: The object is a process, not a person: 'facilitate learning', not 'facilitate students'.

  7. 7.promote

    verbWriting

    Encourage something to grow or develop.

    School gardens promote healthy eating among children.

  8. 8.foster

    verbWriting

    Encourage the development of a quality over time.

    Team projects foster cooperation and independence.

  9. 9.encourage

    verbWriting and Speaking

    Make someone more likely to do something; encourage + person + to.

    Free bike hire encourages tourists to explore the city.

  10. 10.ease

    verbWriting

    Make a problem or pressure less severe.

    A new bridge would ease congestion in the town centre.

  11. 11.help out

    phrasal verbSpeaking

    Give practical help, often informally.

    I sometimes help out at my uncle's shop at weekends.

  12. 12.give someone a hand

    idiomSpeaking

    Help with a practical task; informal.

    My neighbour gave me a hand when I moved flats.

    Don't swap blindly: Speaking only; not for Task 2.

Paraphrasing

How to paraphrase “help” well

  • Check the grammar pattern: enable/encourage someone to do; assist someone with; facilitate a process.
  • Use help + infinitive without 'to' as well: 'help reduce costs' and 'help to reduce costs' are both correct.
  • Choose a verb that shows the result: ease congestion, foster independence, promote health.

Band tip: the public IELTS Writing band descriptors for Lexical Resource describe Band 7 as using “less common lexical items” with “some awareness of style and collocation”. A synonym that changes your meaning or breaks a collocation works against you, so choose the word that fits the sentence, not the rarest one you know.

In context

Use it in an answer

Writing Task 2 (body paragraph: benefits of after-school clubs)Written by BandLadder

After-school clubs support working parents, who would otherwise need paid childcare. More importantly, they foster skills that lessons often cannot, such as teamwork and leadership. Sports clubs in particular encourage children to stay active, which aids concentration in class the following day.

Frequently asked questions

What is a formal synonym for help in IELTS?+

Assist, support, aid, enable and facilitate are formal. Choose the one with the right meaning and grammar; facilitate, for example, takes a process as its object.

Is 'help to do' or 'help do' correct?+

Both are correct in British English. 'Help reduce' is slightly more common in modern writing.

What is the difference between enable and facilitate?+

Enable makes something possible for a person ('enable students to study'). Facilitate makes a process easier ('facilitate study'). Do not write 'facilitate students to'.

Can I use 'give a hand' in IELTS Speaking?+

Yes. It is natural and informal, which suits Speaking. Keep it out of Writing.

Practise

See real answers to paraphrase

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