provide

[ pruh-vahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, pro·vid·ed, pro·vid·ing.

1. to make available; furnish:

   to provide employees with various benefits.

   Synonyms: render, give

2. to supply or equip:

   to provide the army with new fighter planes.

3. to afford or yield.

   Synonyms: produce

4. Law. to arrange for or stipulate beforehand, as by a provision or proviso.
5. Archaic. to prepare or procure beforehand.

verb (used without object)

, pro·vid·ed, pro·vid·ing.

1. to take measures with due foresight (usually followed by for or against ).
2. to make arrangements for supplying means of support, money, etc. (usually followed by for ):

   He provided for his children in his will.

3. to supply means of support (often followed by for ):

   to provide for oneself.

provide

/ prəˈvaɪd /

verb

1. to put at the disposal of; furnish or supply
2. to afford; yield

   this meeting provides an opportunity to talk

3. intr; often foll by for or against to take careful precautions (over)

   he provided against financial ruin by wise investment

4. intrfoll byfor to supply means of support (to), esp financially

   he provides for his family

5. (in statutes, documents, etc) to determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), esp by including a proviso condition
6. to confer and induct into ecclesiastical offices
7. rare.
   to have or get in store

   in summer many animals provide their winter food

Derived Forms

• proˈvider, noun

Other Words From

• pro·vida·ble adjective
• over·pro·vide verb (used with object) overprovided overproviding
• prepro·vide verb (used with object) preprovided preproviding
• unpro·vida·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of provide¹

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”; video ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of provide¹

C15: from Latin prōvidēre to provide for, from prō- beforehand + vidēre to see

Example Sentences

NBC News expects Melvin to provide a smooth transition as he is well known to regular viewers of the program.

From Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County got a gift from voters: They passed Measure A, a half-cent-per-dollar sales tax that will provide a billion dollars a year for services and housing for homeless people.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of it should be spent to provide a lot of these desperately needed beds.

From Los Angeles Times

Calling for that type of regulation would actually support free speech, destroy media monopolies and provide us with a fertile ground of vetted facts that could lead to cogent, meaningful discussion on issues of public debate.

From Salon

Trump’s transition team has sought a work-around, saying he would “provide advice and guidance from outside of Government” with the work concluding by July 2026, according to a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afford
• allow
• bring
• grant
• lend
• present
• produce
• render
• serve
• yield