provide

Verb

Verb Forms: provided, providing, provides

• To make something available or supply for use.
• give something useful or necessary to
  • "We provided the room with an electrical heater"
• give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
  • "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
• determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), especially by including a proviso condition or stipulation
  • "The will provides that each child should receive half of the money"
  • "The Constitution provides for the right to free speech"
• mount or put up
• make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain
  • "This procedure provides for lots of leeway"
• supply means of subsistence; earn a living
  • "He provides for his large family by working three jobs"
• take measures in preparation for
  • "provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship"
• To make a living; earn money for necessities.
• To act to prepare for something.
• To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate.
• To give what is needed or desired, especially basic needs.
• To furnish (with), cause to be present, supply.
• To make possible or attainable.
• To foresee, to consider in advance.
• To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See provisor.

Examples

• Don't bother bringing equipment, as we will provide it.
• He needed to provide a good word quickly to stay in the Scrabble game.
• He provides us with an alternative option.
• I'll lend you the money, provided that you pay it back by Monday.
• It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage.
• provide against disaster.
• The contract provides that the work be well done.
• We aim to provide the local community with more green spaces.

Synonyms

allow, allow for, bring home the bacon, cater, furnish, leave, offer, ply, put up, render, supply, afford

Related Words

provision