provide
[verb]
Synonyms:
- supply, cater, equip, furnish, outfit, purvey, stock up
- give, add, afford, bring, impart, lend, present, produce, render, serve, yield
- provide for or against: take precautions, anticipate, forearm, plan ahead, plan for, prepare for
- provide for: support, care for, keep, maintain, sustain, take care of

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

pro‧vide S1 W1 /prəˈvaɪd/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: provider, provision, provisions; verb: provide, provision; adverb: provisionally; adjective: provisional]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: 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 will be provided.
provide something for somebody
The hotel provides a shoe-cleaning service for guests.
provide somebody with something
The project is designed to provide young people with work.
► Do not say ‘provide someone something’. Say provide someone with something.

2. to produce something useful as a result:
We are hoping the enquiry will provide an explanation for the accident.
provide somebody with something
The search provided the police with several vital clues.

3. provide that formal if a law or rule provides that something must happen, it states that it must happen
provide against something phrasal verb formal
to make plans in order to deal with a bad situation that might happen:
Health insurance will provide against loss of income if you become ill.
provide for somebody/something phrasal verb

1. to give someone the things they need to live, such as money, food etc:
Without work, how can I provide for my children?

2. formal if a law, rule, or plan provides for something, it states that something will be done and makes it possible for it to be done:
The new constitution provides for a 650-seat legislature.

3. formal to make plans in order to deal with something that might happen in the future:
Commanders failed to provide for an attack by sea.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

provide
verb
ADV. kindly a buffet supper, kindly provided by club members
free (of charge) Careers advice is provided free of charge.
VERB + PROVIDE be able to, can/could | aim to, seek to, try to trying to provide the best possible medical care
fail to | be designed to, be intended to The scheme was intended to provide financial help to unemployed workers.
be expected to, be likely/unlikely to The report was not expected to provide any answers.
PREP. for providing food and shelter for the refugees
with He provided us with a lot of useful information.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

provide
verb
1.
BAD: My job provides me the opportunity to meet new people every day.
GOOD: My job provides me with the opportunity to meet new people every day.

Usage Note:
provide sb with sth : 'Money from the aid programme will be used to provide the farmers with better tools.'

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2.
BAD: The government does not provide enough food to the population.
GOOD: The government does not provide enough food for the population.
BAD: I was very pleased with the room you provided to me.
GOOD: I was very pleased with the room you provided for me.

Usage Note:
provide sth for sb/sth : 'The hotel also provides facilities for business meetings and conferences.'

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3.
BAD: In my view, a father should provide his family.
GOOD: In my view, a father should provide for his family.

Usage Note:
provide for sb = support someone by paying for all their food, clothes etc: 'How can you provide for your children when you don't have a job?'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲