DictionaryAI

provide

verb
pruh-VYD/pɹəˈvaɪd/

Formsprovides, providing, provided

6 meanings of provide

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To supply or make available something that is needed or wanted, or to make something possible or attainable.

    The hotel provides towels and toiletries for every guest.

    Volunteers will provide transportation to anyone who needs a ride to the polls.

    UsageProvide something for or to someone, or provide someone with something.

    Similarsupply, offer, give, furnish

    Oppositewithhold, deny

    Note

    John Arbuthnot's Tables of Ancient Coins (1727) says that Rome was generally well provided with corn. In that use, well provided reads almost as an adjective meaning "amply stocked."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • John Arbuthnot wrote Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights and Measures. wellcomecollection.org
    • The work was first published in 1727; its title page bears that date. archive.org
    • Arbuthnot's book says that Rome was generally well provided with corn. archive.org
  2. 2
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To supply the money, food, and other necessities that someone needs to live; (also without an object) to earn enough to support one's family.

    After the divorce, he continued to provide for his children.

    After her husband died, she worked nights at a factory to provide for the family.

    UsageYou provide for your family; with things, provide food for them or provide them with food.

    Similarsupport, maintain

  3. 3
    set a conditionverbtransitive or intransitive
    To establish as a condition beforehand; to stipulate.

    The treaty provides that disputes will be settled by arbitration.

    Both leases provide for a penalty if rent is more than ten days late.

    UsageA document provides that something will happen, or provides for something; the clause may take the subjunctive, as in the work be done.

    Similarstipulate, specify, state, require

    Note

    The language of contracts and conditions, where a document provides that something shall happen. The past participle has hardened into a conjunction, provided (that), meaning "on condition that."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    prepareverbintransitive
    To take action ahead of time in order to prepare for something.

    Wise governments provide against famine by storing surplus grain.

    The committee had provided for every contingency except a power failure.

    UsageProvide against a danger you guard against; provide for something you prepare for.

    Similarprepare, plan

  2. 5
    verbobsolete
    To foresee; to consider or anticipate something in advance.
    Note

    A Latinism that kept the root's own meaning, the "foresee" of Latin prōvidēre, which also lies behind the "prepare in advance" meaning. Ben Jonson's Sejanus His Fall, first performed in 1603 and printed in 1605, has princes warned hourly to provide their safety, where the word may mean looking ahead to it or seeing to it. The dedication of his Volpone, dated 1607, is plainer: it speaks of wise patriots providing the hurts that reckless satirists may do, that is, foreseeing them.

  3. 6
    verb
    To appoint a cleric to an ecclesiastical benefice before the current holder has vacated it.
    provide such natives to the higher dignities of the church
    1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella

Practice

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Origin

Latin prōvidēre, meaning "to foresee, act with foresight," gave Middle English providen, which modern English inherited. Purvey is a doublet.