- provide
- 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 managers with all the information they need.
• The deal will provide Rolls-Royce with work for the next five years.
provide something for/to somebody• The agreement provided guarantees for union members when layoffs are considered.
2. to produce a useful result, opportunity etc:• We are hoping the enquiry will provide an explanation for the accident.
3. provide that formal LAW if a law or rule provides that something must happen, it states that it must happen:• The Companies Act provides that the consent of shareholders is required for the sale of assets valued at £100,000 or more to a director of the company.
to make plans in order to deal with something that might happen:• Health insurance can provide against loss of income through illness or accident.
provide for somebody/something phrasal verb [transitive]1. to give someone the things they need, such as money, food etc:• Without work, how can I provide for my children?
• There will be an increasing number of retired and elderly people to be provided for by a progressively smaller number of workers.
2. formal to make plans in order to deal with something that might happen in the future:• The calculations must provide for the increase in inflation.
3. LAW if a law, contract, rule etc provides for something, it makes doing that thing possible:• Recent legislation provides for a tribunal to hear the complainant's case.
• The new contract provides for the purchase of 25 systems over four years.
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provide UK US /prəʊˈvaɪd/ US /prəˈvaɪd/ verb [T]► to give something to a person, company, or organization, or to make it available for them to use: »The government has pledged to provide over $1 billion in refinancing.
provide sb with sth »Customers, suppliers, and contractors will be provided with the specialist training they need to work on the project.
provide sth for sb/sth »The enhanced cashflow will also provide funds for expansion into television.
provide sth to sb »Our digital imaging centre provides a 3D scanning service to a wide range of customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
be provided by sb/sth »According to Census data provided by the state Department of Labor and Industry, Hispanic workers constitute about 3% of the work force.
► to produce something useful that can be used as part of a process or activity: »A well-established management process should provide a framework for the integration of all business units and operations.
»It is hoped that the proposed 10-day sales-tax holiday will provide a boost to retail sales.
»provide an opportunity/advantage/basis
Financial and business terms. 2012.
