Library / English Dictionary

PROVIDE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take measures in preparation for

Example:

provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

provident (providing carefully for the future)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), especially by including a proviso condition or stipulation

Example:

The Constitution provides for the right to free speech

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

condition; qualify; specify; stipulate (specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
It ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

provision (a stipulated condition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance

Example:

The hostess provided lunch for all the guests

Synonyms:

cater; ply; provide; supply

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "provide"):

staff (provide with staff)

drench (force to drink)

regale; treat (provide with choice or abundant food or drink)

board (provide food and lodging (for))

feed; give (give food to)

feed (serve as food for; be the food for)

dish; dish out; dish up; serve; serve up (provide (usually but not necessarily food))

cater (supply food ready to eat; for parties and banquets)

pander; pimp; procure (arrange for sexual partners for others)

help; serve (help to some food; help with food or drink)

power (supply the force or power for the functioning of)

feed (provide as food)

gratify; indulge; pander (yield (to); give satisfaction to)

underlay (provide with a base, support, lining, or backing)

conform to; fill; fit; fulfil; fulfill; meet; satisfy (fill, satisfy or meet a want or need or condtion ro restriction)

horse (provide with a horse or horses)

shower (provide abundantly with)

accommodate (provide with something desired or needed)

nourish; nurture; sustain (provide with nourishment)

fix up (find (something or someone) for)

gutter (provide with gutters)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence examples:

They provide the food to the people

They provide the people the food

Derivation:

provider (someone who provides the means for subsistence)

provision (the activity of supplying or providing something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Supply means of subsistence; earn a living

Example:

Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon

Synonyms:

bring home the bacon; provide

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

support (support materially or financially)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

provision (the activity of supplying or providing something)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Give something useful or necessary to

Example:

We provided the room with an electrical heater

Synonyms:

furnish; provide; render; supply

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "provide"):

hydrate (supply water or liquid to in order to maintain a healthy balance)

charge (energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge)

date (provide with a dateline; mark with a date)

feed (feed into; supply)

calk (provide with calks)

fund (provide a fund for the redemption of principal or payment of interest)

scant; skimp; stint (supply sparingly and with restricted quantities)

terrace; terrasse (provide (a house) with a terrace)

dado (provide with a dado)

innervate (supply nerves to (some organ or body part))

offer (make available or accessible, provide or furnish)

signalise; signalize (provide with traffic signals)

extend; offer (make available; provide)

stock (provide or furnish with a stock of something)

buy in; stock; stock up (amass so as to keep for future use or sale or for a particular occasion or use)

caption (provide with a caption, as of a photograph or a drawing)

tube (provide with a tube or insert a tube into)

ticket (provide with a ticket for passage or admission)

stock (supply with livestock)

stock (supply with fish)

rim (furnish with a rim)

fret (provide (a musical instrument) with frets)

step (furnish with steps)

rail (provide with rails)

grate (furnish with a grate)

capitalise; capitalize (supply with capital, as of a business by using a combination of capital used by investors and debt capital provided by lenders)

alphabetize (provide with an alphabet)

wharf (provide with a wharf)

air-condition; air-cool (equip with an apparatus for controlling the humidity and temperature)

uniform (provide with uniforms)

railroad (supply with railroad lines)

partner (provide with a partner)

bewhisker; whisker (furnish with whiskers)

subtitle (supply (a movie) with subtitles)

headline (provide (a newspaper page or a story) with a headline)

match (provide funds complementary to)

hobnail (supply with hobnails)

wive (provide with a wife; marry (someone) to a wife)

victual (supply with food)

cloy; surfeit (supply or feed to surfeit)

heat (provide with heat)

seat (provide with seats)

seat (put a seat on a chair)

ramp (furnish with a ramp)

arm (supply with arms)

interleave (provide (books) with blank leaves)

glass; glaze (furnish with glass)

crenel; crenelate; crenellate (supply with battlements)

causeway (provide with a causeway)

canal; canalise; canalize (provide (a city) with a canal)

bush (provide with a bushing)

brattice (supply with a brattice, to ventilate mines)

furnish (provide or equip with furniture)

slat (equip or bar with slats)

berth (provide with a berth)

bed (furnish with a bed)

computerise; computerize (provide with computers)

costume (furnish with costumes; as for a film or play)

bottom (provide with a bottom or a seat)

rafter (provide (a ceiling) with rafters)

tool (furnish with tools)

key (provide with a key)

fuel (provide with a combustible substance that provides energy)

provision; purvey (supply with provisions)

afford; give; yield (be the cause or source of)

equip; fit; fit out; outfit (provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose)

transistorise; transistorize (equip (an electronic circuit or device) with transistors)

upholster (provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and covers)

cleat (provide with cleats)

coal (supply with coal)

corbel (furnish with a corbel)

cornice (furnish with a cornice)

constitutionalize (provide with a constitution, as of a country)

copper-bottom (provide with a copper bottom)

curtain (provide with drapery)

gate (supply with a gate)

index (provide with an index)

articulate; joint (provide with a joint)

pour (supply in large amounts or quantities)

pump (supply in great quantities)

fire; fuel (provide with fuel)

flood; glut; oversupply (supply with an excess of)

toggle (provide with a toggle or toggles)

patch (provide with a patch; also used metaphorically)

water (provide with water)

leverage (provide with leverage)

tap (furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it)

top; top out (provide with a top or finish the top (of a structure))

reflectorise; reflectorize (provide with reflectors, such as chemicals)

retrofit (provide with parts, devices, or equipment not available or in use at the time of the original manufacture)

border; edge (provide with a border or edge)

machicolate (supply with projecting galleries)

sanitate (provide with sanitary facilities or appliances)

hat (furnish with a hat)

theme (provide with a particular theme or motive)

kern (furnish with a kern)

headquarter (provide with headquarters)

shelter (provide shelter for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Somebody ----s something with something

Derivation:

provider (someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity)

provision (the activity of supplying or providing something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Mount or put up

Example:

offer resistance

Synonyms:

offer; provide; put up

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

engage; wage (carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain

Example:

This procedure provides for lots of leeway

Synonyms:

allow; allow for; leave; provide

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "provide" is one way to...):

afford; give; yield (be the cause or source of)

Verb group:

admit; allow (afford possibility)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

No specification is provided for localization.

(Acute Myocardial Infarction by ECG Finding, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

He returned carrying his jumping-shoes, which are provided, as you are aware, with several sharp spikes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I should think not, though, because he told me, only the other day, that it was provided for. That was Mr. Micawber's expression, “Provided for.””

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I provided myself with a sum of money, together with a few jewels which had belonged to my mother, and departed.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

"We offer you forty dollars for all serial rights in your story," Teresa slowly spelled out, "provided you allow us to make the alterations suggested."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Dinucleotide repeats are less sensitive than mononucleotide repeats, but provide internal sample control.

(Mononucleotide and Dinucleotide Marker Panel, NCI Thesaurus)

You provide for the family, you know, (with a smile at his father).

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A reference source that provides meanings of words related to medical history.

(Medical History Dictionary, NCI Thesaurus)

HER wisdom too limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Now I found that a secure retreat was provided for me in my extremity.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)