provide

provide, supply, furnish mean to give or to get what is desired by or needed for someone or something. The words are often used interchangeably without seeming loss

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provide what is needed for an army

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supply daily rations of food

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furnish enough men for the expedition

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but sometimes one of them rather than either of the others may be selected because of the implications or connotations that it stresses.

Provide may suggest foresight and stress the idea of making adequate preparation for something by stocking or equipping; the agent of the action in such cases is usually personal

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provide for the common defense— U. S. Constitution

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through the long painful days of inaction his wife sought by every possible means to provide him with occupation— Current Biog.

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federal old-age and survivors insurance provides retirements benefits to workers— Collier's Yr. Bk.

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Supply may stress the idea of replacing, of making up what is needed, or of satisfying a deficiency

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cards . . . and the polished die, the yawning chasm of indolence supply— Cowper

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unable to supply the public demand

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an age which supplied the lack of moral habits by a system of moral attitudes and poses— T. S. Eliot

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the book would be incomplete without some such discussion as I have tried to supply— Inge

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Furnish (see also FURNISH) may emphasize the idea of fitting something or someone with whatever is necessary or, sometimes, normal or desirable (as for use, occupancy, service, or emergencies)

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a small salary out of which she had to furnish her own wardrobe— Current Biog.

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the . . . tail of this bird ... is furnished with proper quills— Winchell

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the southeast trade winds and the tropical foliage furnish alleviating coolness— Chippendale

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Analogous words: *prepare, fit, ready: equip, outfit, arm (see FURNISH): purvey, *cater