Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of providing something needed: "Supply" refers to the activity of making goods, services, or resources available for use.
   • An amount of something available: "Supply" can also mean the total amount of a specific resource, product, or commodity that is available for purchase or use.

2. Verb:

   • To provide something needed or wanted: The primary meaning is to give or furnish what is required.
   • To state or add further information: In conversation or writing, "supply" can mean to offer additional details or comments.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The city's water supply is running low. (The amount of water available is decreasing.)
  • The new factory will increase the local supply of jobs. (The factory will make more jobs available.)

• Verb:

  • The charity will supply food to the disaster area. (The charity will provide food.)
  • "He might be late," she supplied, checking her watch. (She added this piece of information.)

Advanced Usage

• "in short supply": scarce; not readily available.

  • During the pandemic, hand sanitizer was in short supply. (Hand sanitizer was difficult to find.)

• "supply and demand": the relationship between the availability of a product (supply) and the desire for it (demand), which determines its price.

  • The price of gasoline fluctuates based on supply and demand. (The price changes depending on how much is available and how much people want it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Supplier (n): A person or company that provides goods or services.

  • The restaurant's main supplier delivers fresh vegetables daily.

• Supplies (n, plural): Materials or provisions stored and available for use.

  • The hikers packed enough supplies for a week in the mountains.

Synonyms

• Provide: To make available for use.
• Furnish: To supply or give something needed.
• Deliver: To bring and hand over.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Supply with: To provide someone or something with a necessary item.
  • The army supplied the troops with new equipment. (The army provided new equipment to the troops.)

Related Idioms

• Supply the place of: To act as a substitute for someone or something.
  • This new software can supply the place of three different programs. (This new software can replace three different programs.)

Noun

1. the activity of supplying or providing something
2. offering goods and services for sale
3. an amount of something available for use

Verb

1. state or say further
   • `It doesn't matter,' he supplied
2. give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
   • The hostess provided lunch for all the guests
3. circulate or distribute or equip with
   • issue a new uniform to the children
   • supply blankets for the beds
4. give something useful or necessary to
   • We provided the room with an electrical heater