provide

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 supplyCowper

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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 supplyInge

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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

New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.

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  • provide — pro‧vide [prəˈvaɪd] verb [transitive] 1. to give someone what they need, or to make sure they get it: • The World Bank is providing funding for the project. provide somebody with something • Our computerised information service can provide busy… …   Financial and business terms

  • Provide — Pro*vide , v. i. 1. To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Provide — Pro*vide , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Provided}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Providing}.] [L. providere, provisum; pro before + videre to see. See {Vision}, and cf. {Prudent}, {Purvey}.] 1. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • provide — ► VERB 1) make available for use; supply. 2) (provide with) equip or supply (someone) with. 3) (provide for) make adequate preparation or arrangements for. 4) stipulate in a will or other legal document. DERIVATIVES provider …   English terms dictionary

  • provide — I (arrange for) verb anticipate needs, appoint, care for, consulere, contract, direct, engage, get ready, look after, make allowance for, make preparations, make provision, make ready, manage, organize, pave the way, plan, prepare, providere,… …   Law dictionary

  • provide — [v1] supply, support accommodate, add, administer, afford, arrange, bestow, bring, care, cater, contribute, dispense, equip, favor, feather*, feed, fit, fit out, fix up, fix up with, furnish, give, grant, hand over, heel*, impart, implement,… …   New thesaurus

  • provide — (v.) early 15c., from L. providere look ahead, prepare, supply, from pro ahead (see PRO (Cf. pro )) + videre to see (see VISION (Cf. vision)). Related: Provided; providing …   Etymology dictionary

  • provide — [prə vīd′, prōvīd′] vt. provided, providing [ME providen < L providere < pro , PRO 2 + videre, to see: see VISION] 1. Now Rare to get ready beforehand 2. to make available; supply 3. to supply (someone) with something …   English World dictionary

  • provide — pro|vide W1S1 [prəˈvaıd] v [T] [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: providere to see ahead, provide , from videre to see ] 1.) to give something to someone or make it available to them, because they need it or want it →↑provision ▪ Tea and biscuits …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • provide */*/*/ — UK [prəˈvaɪd] / US verb Word forms provide : present tense I/you/we/they provide he/she/it provides present participle providing past tense provided past participle provided Get it right: provide: When provide means to give someone something they …   English dictionary

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