provide

[ pruh-vahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, pro·vid·ed, pro·vid·ing.

1. to make available; furnish:

   to provide employees with various benefits.

   Synonyms: render, give

2. to supply or equip:

   to provide the army with new fighter planes.

3. to afford or yield.

   Synonyms: produce

4. Law. to arrange for or stipulate beforehand, as by a provision or proviso.
5. Archaic. to prepare or procure beforehand.

verb (used without object)

, pro·vid·ed, pro·vid·ing.

1. to take measures with due foresight (usually followed by for or against ).
2. to make arrangements for supplying means of support, money, etc. (usually followed by for ):

   He provided for his children in his will.

3. to supply means of support (often followed by for ):

   to provide for oneself.

provide

/ prəˈvaɪd /

verb

1. to put at the disposal of; furnish or supply
2. to afford; yield

   this meeting provides an opportunity to talk

3. intr; often foll by for or against to take careful precautions (over)

   he provided against financial ruin by wise investment

4. intrfoll byfor to supply means of support (to), esp financially

   he provides for his family

5. (in statutes, documents, etc) to determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), esp by including a proviso condition
6. to confer and induct into ecclesiastical offices
7. rare.
   to have or get in store

   in summer many animals provide their winter food

Derived Forms

• proˈvider, noun

Other Words From

• pro·vida·ble adjective
• over·pro·vide verb (used with object) overprovided overproviding
• prepro·vide verb (used with object) preprovided preproviding
• unpro·vida·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of provide¹

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”; video ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of provide¹

C15: from Latin prōvidēre to provide for, from prō- beforehand + vidēre to see

Example Sentences

But the hope, he said, was for a new passer to “provide some depth in that room.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kubinec joined the military as a necessity, Svoboda said, to provide for the family in the last throes of the Great Depression in the late 1930s.

From Los Angeles Times

While the swap meet has parking for people with disabilities, the suit alleged that the business failed to provide a van accessible space, including an access aisle for wheelchair drop-off with a level surface.

From Los Angeles Times

As he wound up his speech to the mustered lines of men, he said something that bears repeating now, when we are testing its truth: “The government for which you fought … that government will see to it that in your declining years you shall not suffer but shall be surrounded with all the comforts and all the blessings which a grateful nation can provide.”

From Los Angeles Times

After their father died, Ani's sister, who works at a high-level job with the federal government, moved in with her mother to provide her companionship.

From Salon

Related Words

• afford
• allow
• bring
• grant
• lend
• present
• produce
• render
• serve
• yield