provide

UK: /prəˈvaɪd/ US: /prəˈvaɪd/ ,(prə vīd′)

Inflections of 'provide' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

provides

v 3rd person singular

providing

v pres p

provided

v past

provided

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2022

pro•vide /prəˈvaɪd/   v., -vid•ed, -vid•ing. 

1. to make available;
   furnish: [~ + object + for + object]
   to provide benefits for employees.
   [~ + object (+ with) + object]
   to provide employees (with) benefits.
2. to supply or equip: [~ + object + with + object]
   to provide the army with tanks.
   [~ + object + for + object]
   to provide tanks for the army.
3. to supply means of support:
   [~ + for + object] They worked hard to provide for their children.
4. to yield:
   [~ + object] This tree provides shelter.
5. Law to stipulate, as by a provision:
   [~ + that clause] The contract provides that the writer will receive an additional payment if his book is made into a movie.
6. to take measures in preparation for something:
   [no object] You must provide for winter in this harsh climate.

pro•vid•er, n. [countable] See -vide-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2022

pro•vide  (prə vīd′), v., -vid•ed, -vid•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to make available;
   furnish:
   to provide employees with various benefits.
2. to supply or equip:
   to provide the army with new fighter planes.
3. to afford or yield.
4. Law to arrange for or stipulate beforehand, as by a provision or proviso.
5. [Archaic.] to prepare or procure beforehand.

v.i. 

6. to take measures with due foresight (usually fol. by for or against).
7. to make arrangements for supplying means of support, money, etc. (usually fol. by for):
   He provided for his children in his will.
8. to supply means of support (often fol. by for):
   to provide for oneself.

• Latin prōvidēre to foresee, look after, provide for, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + vidēre to see
• late Middle English providen 1375–1425

pro•vid′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. give, render.
• 3. produce.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

provide /prəˈvaɪd/ vb (mainly tr)

1. to put at the disposal of; furnish or supply
2. to afford; yield: this meeting provides an opportunity to talk
3. (intr; often followed by for or against) to take careful precautions (over): he provided against financial ruin by wise investment
4. (intransitive) followed by for: to supply means of support (to), esp financially: he provides for his family
5. to confer and induct into ecclesiastical offices

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin prōvidēre to provide for, from prō- beforehand + vidēre to see

proˈvider n