adv
Meaning 1
Without protection or assistance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The fish flopped helplessly in the tiny remaining pool.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
helplessly
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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hĕlpʹləs-lē
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/ˈhɛlpləsli/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: HH EH1 L P L AH0 S L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adv
Meaning 2
Without the ability to help oneself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The boy rolled on the floor laughing helplessly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 3
Without the ability to react actively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The spectators gaped helplessly as the balloon approached the power lines.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
Meaning 4
in a helpless manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the crowd watched him helplessly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: impotently, unable to help
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English helpless Middle English -ly English -ly English helplessly From helpless + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Greek: αβοήθητα (avoḯthita) — Translations
- Polish: bezbronnie — Translations
- Polish: bezradnie — Translations
- Polish: bezsilnie — Translations
Real reading context