help-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: assist someone, improve a condition, or contribute to a goal

Commentary: Includes: HELP OUT

Examples:
Please help me carry the groceries in.
The children helped around the house.
The police are helping to locate the bodies.
More lighting would help people see the steps.
Those pills haven't helped John get well.
This money is to help orphans get an education.
Repainting the room white helped it to look bigger.
This will help to prevent accidents.
The protests actually helped increase sales.
Using the learning objectives helped clarify the goals of the task.

Mappings:
VerbNet: help-72.1-1-1
FrameNet: Assistance
PropBank: help.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 3, 2, 6, 8
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
help_out 1

Sense Number 2: avail of, supply

Commentary:
NOTE: usually with reflexive Includes: HELP ONESELF

Examples:
She is helping herself to more potatoes.
The waiter offered to help him to another slice of pie.
He told me to help myself to the office supplies.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5, 7

Sense Number 3: refrain from doing

Commentary: Includes: HELP ONESELF
NOTE: almost always used in the negative

Examples:
They could not help watching the burning building.
I couldn't help myself from eating another chocolate.
Do you think she could help being a brat if she tried?

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
help_oneself 1