resource
Americannoun
-
resources
plural
-
a source of supply, support, or aid, especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.
- Synonyms:
- service, help, assistance, support, aid
-
resources, the collective wealth of a country or its means of producing wealth.
-
Usually resources money, or any property that can be converted into money; assets.
-
Often resources an available means afforded by the mind or one's personal capabilities.
to have resource against loneliness.
-
an action or measure to which one may have recourse in an emergency; expedient.
-
capability in dealing with a situation or in meeting difficulties.
a woman of resource.
- Synonyms:
- ingenuity, adaptability
noun
-
capability, ingenuity, and initiative; quick-wittedness
a man of resource
-
(often plural) a source of economic wealth, esp of a country (mineral, land, labour, etc) or business enterprise (capital, equipment, personnel, etc)
-
a supply or source of aid or support; something resorted to in time of need
-
a means of doing something; expedient
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of resource
First recorded in 1640–50; from French ressource, Old French ressourse, noun derivative of resourdre “to rise up,” from Latin resurgere, equivalent to re- re- + surgere “to rise up, lift”; see resurge, source
Explanation
A resource is any personal talent or outside supply that can be tapped for help or support. Resource comes from an old French word meaning "relief" or "recovery," which certainly ties in with the idea of a resource being something that offers necessary aid. However, the word resource also refers to the natural resources available in and on our Earth — things that we are constantly drawing on and depleting, such as our trees, ores, and atmosphere. Once such a natural resource is used up, it’s usually gone forever, and is no longer a resource.
Vocabulary lists containing resource
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
“This is transforming geothermal from a niche, location-dependent resource into a scalable source of 24/7, low-carbon power,” the analysts said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Sarcone, who volunteers at a local LGBTQ+ youth resource center they also founded, still plans to vote for all three.
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026
Higher energy prices are drawing capital to Canada’s energy patch, and Macklem said officials also expect other resource and trade-infrastructure projects categorized as national priorities by Prime Minister Mark Carney to begin rolling out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The aim is to create "a welcoming community resource"
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Memory is not a dispensable resource that can be outsourced to USB sticks or even libraries; memory is the stuff we think with.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
The changes would replace the 43-force structure with three tiers: local teams dealing with neighbourhood issues, regional forces sharing specialist resources and a National Police Service tackling the most serious crimes.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Their purpose is to hash out guidelines for areas including energy and infrastructure, water and natural resources, community engagement, economic and community value, transparency and accountability, and implementation.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
The protests began in September with high school students complaining about poor conditions and resources in education, but have spread to include the so-called "yellow-vest" movement and workers.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Inés “N” was wanted by Mexican authorities for her “probable participation in the crimes of organized crime and operations with resources of illicit origin,” as well as two counts of suspected tax fraud, Goday wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
I kept following him through his quest, gathering resources and killing random creatures that attacked us.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
