See Also: provide(medicine)
provide(dictionary)
provide(dictionary)

provide (oh)



[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: providere 'to see ahead, provide', from videre 'to see']
to give something to someone or make it available to them, because they need it or want it
-see also provision provision
::Tea and biscuits will be provided.
provide sth for sb
::The hotel provides a shoe-cleaning service for guests.
provide sb with sth
::The project is designed to provide young people with work.
to produce something useful as a result
::We are hoping the enquiry will provide an explanation for the accident.
provide sb with sth
::The search provided the police with several vital clues.
provide that
formal if a law or rule provides that something must happen, it states that it must happen
provide against [provide against sth] phr v
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 / [provide for sb/sth] phr v
to give someone the things they need to live, such as money, food etc
::Without work, how can I provide for my children?
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.
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.
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GRAMMAR
Someone can provide something but they cannot 'provide someone' : Will they provide a car?
You can say that you provide someone with something or provide something for someone : He provided me with everything (NOT provided me everything) I needed. | They did not provide enough paper for everyone (NOT to everyone).
To provide for someone means to support them by giving them the things they need to live : She has to provide for her four children (NOT provide her four children).