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:
Cal Poly has not publicly named the students and did not provide details about their condition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
The chief market strategist and his team, who provide market tools and research for institutional and retail investors, have made some prescient market calls since the firm’s 2015 start.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The longest followed participants for just 12 weeks, leaving major unanswered questions about whether medical cannabis could provide lasting sleep benefits or produce additional effects with prolonged use.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
The couple want every hospital in the UK to provide an alternative way out for grieving mothers, to "make a different route for a parent who has just lost a child".
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
“What will happen if I do not provide a code?”
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
The great room is truly remarkable, with a dramatic 14-foot multislide door that provides direct access to the palm tree-lined courtyard oasis.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The majority are owned by Starlink, which provides internet connectivity around the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Arista, which provides switches and routers for AI data-center networking, has fallen 18.4% in a month, but is up 29% on the year.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The research, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, provides new insights into how an everyday beverage may be connected to long-term cardiovascular health.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
It tells you what to measure and enables you to predict, but it provides no answer to the question ‘Why?’
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
It turns out her utility, Dominion Energy, has power of eminent domain, the right to take private property for a public use, provided it pays fair compensation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
"Within minutes, a Hungarian Defence Forces Gripen fighter jet took to the skies and provided an escort for the passenger aircraft", he said.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Hubble's ability to detect visible light and Webb's sensitivity to infrared light gave scientists a more complete picture of the distant objects than either telescope could have provided independently.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
"We are grateful to the American side for the information provided," the FSB was quoted as saying.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
The judges found “quiet, gracious young women,” the spirits provided sound demonstrations, and the charges were dropped without further investigation.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The 29-year-old has become the oldest man in more than 50 years to become world number one for the first time, with victories at the French Open and US Open providing the springboard.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Such interactions can cause neutrinos to scatter or be absorbed, providing scientists with a way to detect them.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
“If it does, I’d accept that as a willingness to keep providing more liquidity support for older long-dated bonds.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
The awards body said Outlander has had an "undeniable" impact on Scotland's screen industry while also providing opportunities for local talent.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
The mortar platoon of Charlie Company had been out providing support to the infantry.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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