verb
To aid
aid, assist, abet, succor, uphold, advise, encourage, stand by, cooperate, intercede for, patronize, befriend, accommodate, work for, back up, maintain, sustain, prop, benefit, bolster, lend a hand, do a service, see through, do one's part, cheer, give a hand, be of use, come to the aid of, bail out, be of some help, help along, do a favor, promote, endorse, sanction, back, advocate, abet, stimulate, uphold, second, further, work for, stick up for*, take under one's wing*, go to bat for*, side with*, give a lift*, boost*, take in tow*, pitch in*, set to*; see also support 2.
Antonyms oppose*, rival, combat.
To assist in recovery
attend, nourish, doctor*; see heal 1, nurse, revive 2, treat 3.
To serve at table
wait on, accommodate, tend to; see serve 4.
To improve
better, correct, ease; see improve 1.
help is the simplest and strongest of these words meaning to supply another with whatever is necessary to accomplish his or her ends or relieve his or her wants; aid and assist are somewhat more formal and weaker, assist esp. implying a subordinate role in the helper and less need for help she assisted him in his experiments; succor suggests timely help to one in distress to succor a besieged city
cannot help but
be compelled to, be obliged to, cannot fail to, have to; see must.
cannot help oneself
be compelled to, have a need to, be the victim of circumstance, be the victim of habit; see must.
so help me God
as God is my witness, by God, I swear; see oath 1.