provide
Americanverb (used with object)
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provides,
present (3rd person singular)
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provided,
past participle, past
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providing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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provides,
present (3rd person singular)
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provided,
past participle, past
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providing
present participle
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to take measures with due foresight (usually followed by for oragainst ).
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to make arrangements for supplying means of support, money, etc. (usually followed byfor ).
He provided for his children in his will.
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to supply means of support (often followed byfor ).
to provide for oneself.
verb
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to put at the disposal of; furnish or supply
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to afford; yield
this meeting provides an opportunity to talk
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(intr; often foll by for or against) to take careful precautions (over)
he provided against financial ruin by wise investment
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to supply means of support (to), esp financially
he provides for his family
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(in statutes, documents, etc) to determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), esp by including a proviso condition
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to confer and induct into ecclesiastical offices
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rare to have or get in store
in summer many animals provide their winter food
Usage
Where does provide come from? For many, the word provide might conjure up tangible objects you can hand over, like food, supplies, goods, or money. Provide may also bring to mind less concrete things that can nevertheless be given or furnished, such as answers or solutions or responses. So, it might surprise you to learn that the root of provide isn’t about the sense of touch—but vision. Provide entered English around 1375–1425. It comes from the Latin prōvidēre, meaning “to foresee, look after, provide for.” The underlying idea of this verb is seeing something at a distance or beforehand, and when you can see something coming, you can make arrangements and prepare supplies for it. We call such arrangements and supplies provisions, a word that is also derived from prōvidēre. The Latin prōvidēre is composed of two parts. The first part is prō-, a widely used prefix based on the preposition prō, meaning “before, in front of.” The second part is vidēre, meaning “to see, look at.”Prō- appears in many words English borrowed from Latin, such as these verbs:
The verb vidēre is the ultimate source of a lot of English words, many of which entered English through French. Some more familiar derivatives include view, video, vision, visual, visit, and vista. Other derivatives are less obvious and even surprising:Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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providernoun
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overprovideverb (used with object)
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preprovideverb (used with object)
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providableadjective
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unprovidableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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providesimple
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providessimple
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have providedperfect
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has providedperfect
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am providingprogressive
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are providingprogressive
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is providingprogressive
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have been providingperfect progressive
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has been providingperfect progressive
Past
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providedsimple
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had providedperfect
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was providingprogressive
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were providingprogressive
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had been providingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of provide
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English providen, Latin prōvidēre “to foresee, look after, provide for,” equivalent to prō- pro- 1 + vidēre “to see”; cf. video ( def. )
Explanation
To provide means to give or supply. When you stay in a bed and breakfast, the innkeeper will generally provide you with a meal in the morning as part of the price of the room. The verb provide generally means to make available or even to allow. The Constitution, for example, provides for protected freedom of speech. But you've probably also heard people talking about getting a job to provide for their family — in that case, to provide means to make money to pay for food and bills, or in other words, bring home the bacon.
Vocabulary lists containing provide
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 6
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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:
It was designed to provide a meaningful measure of financial security when working is no longer an option.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026
The timing of Infineon’s fiscal year means the company is among the first chip makers in Europe to provide annual guidance, giving investors a sneak peek of where demand is heading.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
Improvements were needed at the airport, including air traffic control services, to help provide more reliable and affordable routes, he added.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
Such discrepancies could provide indirect evidence of previously unknown particles.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 10, 2026
Other smaller specialist groups existed, in which boys learned how to signal in Morse code, operate antiaircraft weaponry, provide first aid and practical field medicine, perform air-raid warden duties, and handle other weapons.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Also attending is Leo Haojun Wang, co-founder of Pony.ai, which provides AI systems for thousands of robotaxis operating in China and, more recently, Europe.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026
The Social Security Disability Insurance program provides cash benefits to disabled workers and their eligible dependents.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026
The survey provides a monthly snapshot of small businesses in the U.S., which account for nearly half of private-sector jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
New Beginnings, a group based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, that provides services to people who have converted to Islam, said it had encountered cases involving people who sought to deceive others within the Muslim community.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
But she knew from my application essay that I wanted to take Spanish and that I wanted to travel, so she said, “Jade, St. Francis provides opportunities for our students to travel the world.”
From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson
The move comes days after the airline provided a market update, flagging fare increases and flight cuts amid higher fuel costs.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
Smith died Wednesday after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, according to a statement from her twins, Airyn and Julian De Niro, provided to the Hollywood Reporter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026
Megaspeed’s website says it has several data centers in Southeast Asia and has provided advanced Nvidia AI chips including two popular models, the H100 and B200, both restricted for export to China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
Remarkably, the animals developed a preference for that flavor even though it provided no nutritional reward.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026
Elisha had provided a piano so Maggie could practice playing and singing; he expected his future wife to be an accomplished musician.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
"In total this represents an additional investment of £130m, providing immediate relief for households this winter. While we are taking firm action wherever we can, we need the UK Government to play its part".
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
The stock-market gyrations are providing an early lesson to investors who are just cutting their teeth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
The researchers wanted to learn whether providing additional oxaloacetate through a supplement might reduce the cognitive symptoms and fatigue experienced by cancer survivors.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026
Horvath filed paperwork declaring her candidacy on Monday, checking the box for “nonpartisan” but providing little additional information.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
“You plan on providing him an olive for his martini next?”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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