provide
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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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:
Duthie says if your airline cancels your flight due to wildfires then "they should offer you the chance to rebook, or provide a full refund".
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Puder’s schools provide tutoring, mentoring and flexible scheduling for teens who may have jobs or are parents themselves.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
A small clinical trial suggests that limiting food intake to fewer hours each day could provide modest cognitive benefits for older women, beyond those associated with weight loss alone.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
The findings provide strong evidence that prescribed burning can help protect sequoia groves by reducing the amount of fuel available when a major wildfire arrives.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
VED: More information is needed to provide comprehensive analysis of hypothetical scenario.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The decision to collect, preserve and shape such a rare material provides evidence of the resourcefulness and mental abilities of the early humans living there.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Outside, the parcel is lined with dozens of palm trees to ensure complete privacy, while a dramatic gated courtyard provides an idyllic place to relax away from prying eyes.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Adult social care provides support to help people live more independently, ranging from personal care such as washing to household tasks.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Evolution, which provides online games and the technology behind online casinos, declined to comment on the news.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Oracular ambiguity or statistical probability provides loopholes, and discrepancies are expunged by Faith.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
These fragments provided strong evidence that the bone had been used to strike, reshape and maintain stone tools on multiple occasions.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
However, Trump's decision to hold off on more strikes and Iran's claims on Sunday that it had made progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz provided some much-needed relief.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Authorities have not provided further details, and a police spokesperson didn’t immediately respond Sunday afternoon to an email and voicemail seeking comment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
The Indian Army, however, has provided the wider institutional framework around much of her development.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
They alighted directly in front of the address Mrs. Clarke had provided.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Still, the costs for providing education and other services for children can add up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
On its website, however, Crystal River still is providing information on the Step Up scholarship for parents while inviting students to enroll for next school year.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Toner explained how warm weather would normally bring visitors from across Northern Ireland and beyond to the area, providing a trade boost.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
"We would work with local industry because we're all about providing a sovereign capability to that country," he added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
I felt more determined to recruit staff and obtain resources to meet the growing challenges of providing legal assistance to condemned people.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions 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.
