Definition

Noun: 1. A source of aid, support, or supply that can be drawn upon when needed. This is the most common meaning, referring to something (material, financial, informational, or human) that is available for use. 2. The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties; resourcefulness. This meaning refers to a personal quality or skill. 3. ​(often plural) Available assets or collective wealth, especially of a country or organization. This refers to the total stock of valuable materials, funds, or other assets.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Source of aid/supply):
  • The library is an excellent resource for students.
  • We need to allocate our financial resources more efficiently.
  • Clean water is a precious natural resource.
• Noun (Ability, resourcefulness):
  • She showed great resource in handling the crisis.
  • He is a man of resource and ingenuity.
• Noun (Collective wealth, assets):
  • The country is rich in natural resources like oil and minerals.
  • The project was canceled due to a lack of resources.

Advanced Usage

• "To leave someone to their own resources": To leave someone to cope or manage by themselves, using their own abilities and whatever is available.
  • With no instructions, the new intern was left to her own resources.
• "A resource person": An expert who provides information or advice on a particular subject.
  • We invited a local historian to be a resource person for the project.

Variants and Related Words

• Resourceful (adj): Good at finding ways to solve problems; clever and inventive.
  • A resourceful manager can achieve a lot with a small budget.
• Resourcefulness (n): The quality of being resourceful.
  • Her resourcefulness saved the company a significant amount of money.
• Under-resourced (adj): Not having enough resources (e.g., money, staff, equipment).
  • The school is severely under-resourced.

Synonyms

• Asset: A useful or valuable thing or person.
• Reserve: A supply of something available for future use.
• Supply: A stock or amount of something available.
• Means: The money, assets, or other resources available to a person or organization.
• Ingenuity (for the quality of resourcefulness): Cleverness and inventiveness.

Related Phrases

• Resource management: The process of using resources efficiently and effectively.
  • Good resource management is key to the project's success.
• Human resources (HR): The department in a company that deals with employing and training people.
  • Please contact Human Resources about the new policy.
• Learning resource: Materials used for teaching and learning (e.g., books, software).
  • The online portal provides many digital learning resources.

Noun

1. the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems
   • a man of resource
2. a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
   • the local library is a valuable resource
3. available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed