Supply — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adverb /sə-ˈplī/ (noun) /p(ə)lē/ (adverb) sup·ply

Meaning & Definition of Supply

Supply (noun)

  1. the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available
  2. provisions, stores —usually used in plural
  3. a member of the clergy filling a vacant pulpit temporarily

Supply (verb)

  1. to make available for use, provide
  2. to satisfy the needs or wishes of
  3. to provide for, satisfy

Supply (adverb)

  1. in a supple manner

Supply (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time

    "the supply of parents willing to coach youth soccer seems to be shrinking"

    similar: budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock
    related: reserve, resource, cache, hoard, stockpile, refill, renewal, replacement, kitty, nest egg, pot, purse, fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring

Supply (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity

    "be sure to pack your own towels in case the hostel doesn't supply them"

    similar: accoutre, equip, fit (out), furnish, gird, kit (up or out) (chiefly British), outfit, provision, rig
    related: stock, store, bestow, contribute, donate, give, present, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate, allocate, allot, assign, arm, fortify, prepare, reequip, refit, refurnish, reoutfit
    near: deprive, dispossess, divest, strip

  2. to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption

    "the stable will supply safety helmets, but we need to bring our own riding boots"

    similar: deliver, feed, furnish, give, hand, hand over, provide
    related: ply (with), administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate, assign, cede, deed, make over, transfer
    opposite: hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold
    near: conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

Related Entry: Supple (adjective)

Supple is a different word from Supply. The synonyms below are for supple, not for supply.

  1. able to bend easily without breaking

    "a dome tent outfitted with supple fiberglass tent poles"

    similar: bendy (chiefly British), flexible, limber, lissome, lithe, lithesome, pliable, pliant, willowy
    related: adaptable, ductile, elastic, fluid, kneadable, malleable, modifiable, plastic, variable, yielding, droopy, flaccid, floppy, limp, semiflexible
    opposite: inflexible, rigid, stiff, stiffened
    near: inelastic, nonmalleable, unyielding, breakable, brittle, fragile

  2. able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted

    "shoes made from supple leather"

    similar: bouncy, elastic, flexible, resilient, rubberlike, rubbery, springy, stretch, stretchable, stretchy, whippy
    related: adaptable, ductile, kneadable, malleable, moldable, plastic, pliable, pliant, limber, lissome, lithe, lithesome, willowy
    opposite: inelastic, inflexible, nonelastic, rigid, stiff
    near: compact, firm, hard, solid, unyielding, brittle, crisp, crumbly, flaky, friable, short

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Supply

The most common words with a similar meaning to Supply:

Chiefly British: kit (up or out)
budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock, accoutre, equip, fit (out), furnish, gird, outfit, provision, rig, deliver, feed, give, hand, hand over, provide

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Supply

Words with the opposite meaning of Supply:

hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold

Related Words for Supply

reserve, resource, cache, hoard, stockpile, refill, renewal, replacement, kitty, nest egg, pot, purse, fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring, store, bestow, contribute, donate, present, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out)

Near Antonyms of Supply

deprive, dispossess, divest, strip, conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

Word Forms of Supply

Inflections: supplies, supplied, supplying

Derived words: supplier (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Supply

derivative of supply:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Supply

Words & Phrases Containing Supply

supply chain, supply-side, supply and demand, supply line, supply-side economics, supply teacher

Frequently Asked Questions about Supply

What does "Supply" mean?

"Supply" means the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available. As an a noun, a verb and an adverb, it is defined as: the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Supply"?

Other words for "Supply" include budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir and stock. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Supply" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Supply"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Supply". Common alternatives include budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock, accoutre and equip.

What is the opposite of "Supply"?

Antonyms of "Supply" include hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain and withhold. Near antonyms include deprive, dispossess, divest and strip.

How do you use "Supply" in a sentence?

Examples of "Supply" in a sentence: "the supply of parents willing to coach youth soccer seems to be shrinking"; "be sure to pack your own towels in case the hostel doesn't supply them"; "the stable will supply safety helmets, but we need to bring our own riding boots".

Is "Supply" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Supply" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Supply" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Supply" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Supply"?

"Supply" is pronounced /sə-ˈplī/ as a noun and /p(ə)lē/ as an adverb and divided into syllables as sup·ply.