Provide Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：give or supply (provide)

provide 🔊

/prəˈvaɪd/

to give something to someone or make it available for them to use.

Person handing a bowl of fruit salad to another person, showing generosity and care

give or supply 🔊

➕

/ɡɪv ɔːr səˈplaɪ/

To make something available or furnish what is needed or desired.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'pro-' (forward) + 'videre' (to see), meaning 'to foresee' then 'to supply'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'pro' (for) + 'vide' (see) — a provider sees what's needed and supplies it.

📖 Example

The city library provides free WiFi and computers for all visitors. 🔊 The city library makes free WiFi and computers available for all visitors.

🔗 Collocations

provide for – to supply the necessities for someone, especially financially

provide with – to give or supply someone with something

provide something to someone – to make something available to a person or group

🔄 Synonyms

supply (v.) – to give something needed or wanted, especially regularly

furnish (v.) – to provide or supply with something essential

offer (v.) – to present something for acceptance or rejection

🚫 Antonyms

withhold (v.) – to refuse to give something

deprive (v.) – to take something away from or prevent from having

take (v.) – to remove or acquire something from someone

🌱 Derivatives

provider (n.) – a person or organization that supplies something

provision (n.) – the action of providing or supplying something for use

provisional (adj.) – arranged for the present time, possibly to be changed later

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'providere' (pro- 'forward' + videre 'see'), originally meant 'to foresee, take care of'. It entered English via Old French 'porveoir' and evolved to mean 'to supply or make available'.