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• providence
  providence

  noun

  the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.
• Providence
  Providence

  noun

  a seaport in and the capital of Rhode Island, in the NE part, at the head of Narragansett Bay.

providence

¹ American  

[prov-i-duhns] / ˈprɒv ɪ dəns /

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.

2. (initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.

3. a manifestation of divine care or direction.

4. provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.

5. foresight; provident care.

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Providence ² American  

[prov-i-duhns] / ˈprɒv ɪ dəns /

noun

1. a seaport in and the capital of Rhode Island, in the NE part, at the head of Narragansett Bay.

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Providence ¹ British  

/ ˈprɒvɪdəns /

noun

1. a port in NE Rhode Island, capital of the state, at the head of Narragansett Bay: founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Pop: 176 365 (2003 est)

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providence ² British  

/ ˈprɒvɪdəns /

noun

1. 1. Christianity God's foreseeing protection and care of his creatures

   2. such protection and care as manifest by some other force

2. a supposed manifestation of such care and guidance

3. the foresight or care exercised by a person in the management of his affairs or resources

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Providence ³ British  

/ ˈprɒvɪdəns /

noun

1. Christianity God, esp as showing foreseeing care and protection of his creatures

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Providence Cultural  

1. Capital of Rhode Island and the largest city in the state, located in the northeastern part of the state.

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Port of entry and major trading center.

Roger Williams founded Providence in the early seventeenth century after he was exiled from the colony of Massachusetts. He named it in gratitude for “God's merciful providence.”

Etymology

Origin of providence

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin prōvidentia “foresight, forethought,” from prōvident- (stem of prōvidēns provident ) + -ia, noun suffix

Explanation

Providence is the guardianship and care provided by a deity or god. Religious people thank their god for his providence. The word provide is a good clue to this word's meaning: when a religious being is said to give people providence, he's taking care of them — providing for them. For religious people, any good thing that happens to them — like landing a new job, getting healthy, or finding money on the ground — could be considered an example of providence. You can also talk about people providing providence, if they're showing care and prudence in managing resources.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

providence Providence

Otto von Bismarck’s special providence for “fools, drunks, and the United States of America” may be coming to the aid of the current incumbent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

Little does he know that providence is about to run out: Solar Paper is soon acquired by an American company and his job is terminated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2026

It did not providence any evidence to back up its accusation that South Africa had released the passport information of its officials.

From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025

“There’s almost a providence about it,” Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall told me and another reporter.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2024

I suppose we believed so hard in God’s providence that we just accepted miracles in our favor.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

The group of sisters positioned on the corner in front of the office were from different orders: Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of the Precious Blood, Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Divine Providence.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

Sister Alice Gerdeman’s sign noted that her order, the Sisters of Divine Providence, supports “challenging systems that exclude.”

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

He joined private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners in 1999, where he became a managing director, before moving to Comcast in 2007 to become chief financial officer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

The partying continued throughout the week and Dawn the Duck was among the participants in the Tartan Army's Downtown March in Providence, Rhode Island, on 18 June.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

As Ishmael came their way a south breeze blew and caused the mooring lines of boats to creak—the Advancer, the Providence, the Ocean Mist, the Torvanger—all standard San Piedro gill- netters.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson