provident

[ prov-i-duhnt ]

/ ˈprɒv ɪ dənt /

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adjective

having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future.

characterized by or proceeding from foresight: provident care.

mindful in making provision (usually followed by of).

economical; frugal; thrifty.

Nearby words

provided, providence, providence in the fall of a sparrow, there's a special, providence, divine, providencia, provident, provident club, provident society, providential, provider, providing

Origin of provident

1400–50; Middle English < Latin prōvident- (stem of prōvidēns), present participle of prōvidēre to look out for, provide

SYNONYMS FOR provident

1 cautious, prudent.

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ANTONYMS FOR provident

1 careless.

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Related forms

prov·i·dent·ly, adverbprov·i·dent·ness, nounnon·prov·i·dent, adjectivenon·prov·i·dent·ly, adverb

o·ver·prov·i·dent, adjectiveo·ver·prov·i·dent·ly, adverbo·ver·prov·i·dent·ness, nounun·prov·i·dent, adjectiveun·prov·i·dent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for provident

Despite that negative result, he was placed into isolation—a provident decision.
Two Americans Have Now Been Diagnosed With Ebola in Record Outbreak|Kent Sepkowitz|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To each division was assigned, with provident forethought, its exact part.
George Washington, Vol. I|Henry Cabot Lodge
He continued these provident courses for nine long years, always banking his accretions with scrupulous care.
Cobwebs From an Empty Skull|Ambrose Bierce (AKA: Dod Grile)
There is nothing touches a parent, and such I am to Jack, so nearly as a provident conduct.
Isaac Bickerstaff|Richard Steele

Some of the provident ones collect one or two hundred tons of natural hay against the severities of winter.
Two Years in Oregon|Wallis Nash
We saw in the last lecture that Prometheus was called the Provident,—the pro-metheus being a looking forward.
The English Novel|Sidney Lanier

British Dictionary definitions for provident

provident

/ (ˈprɒvɪdənt) /

adjective

providing for future needs

exercising foresight in the management of one's affairs or resources

characterized by or proceeding from foresight

Derived Forms

providently, adverb

Word Origin for provident

C15: from Latin prōvidens foreseeing, from prōvidēre to provide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012