1
2
a
: the point of origin of a stream of water : fountainhead
3
: a firsthand document or primary reference work
sourced; sourcing
1
: to specify the source of (something, such as quoted material)
2
: to obtain from a source
metals sourced from abroad
: of, relating to, or being source code
a source file
Synonyms
Examples of source in a Sentence
Noun
The college had its own power source.
She has been a great source of strength to me.
His job is the family's main source of income.
A government source spoke to the press today.
The reporter has refused to reveal his sources.
According to one source, the program will not cost a lot.
information from various intelligence sources
Recent Examples on the Web
Zhang Yan, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2024
Even worse, researchers are finding the AI often elevates lower-quality sites as reliable sources of information.
—Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Gaza's people, including the small Christian community there, have been a source of constant concern for Francis, and Easter in the Holy Land overall was a somber affair this year given the war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Held in the Los Angeles County jail, Abrego was beaten and stabbed by other inmates, a law enforcement source said.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Monk is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right MCL sprain, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
The rest of the money needed for the project would come from undetermined sources, likely including the city and the state.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Regardless of your writing project, unreliable or biased sources are a great way to torpedo your work—and any hope of future work.
—Estelle Erasmus, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
Two security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the strike was carried out by a Turkish drone.
—Mohamed Gabobe, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
For instance, Its chocolates are unequally divided (unlike other bars which are split up in symmetric squares or rectangles) to serve as a constant reminder of the inequality that comes with sourcing cocoa.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 30 Mar. 2024
This approach is what University of Tennessee researchers coined a ‘Vested’ sourcing business model because the buying organization and the supplier have a vested interest in the outcomes and each other’s success.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It’s also deeply committed to supporting local agriculture, sourcing as much as possible from nearby farmers, plus seasonal produce from its farm in North Stonington, Connecticut.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
The firm, which has roots in Singapore and Bengaluru, India, sources its location data from advertising exchanges—companies that quietly interact with billions of devices as users browse the web and move about the world.
—Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
In a statement, an Airbus spokesperson said the company did not comment on sourcing volumes and supplier contracts but was complying with all prevailing sanctions against Russia.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Yet hotels continue to act like scrapping single-use soaps and sourcing their restaurant food locally will reverse climate change.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
Locally sourced fish and produce are the focal points of the multi-course meal.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Quentin Clark, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Our allergen-friendly Plant Protein Powder is a premium quality, multi-source plant protein blend that contains 20g of protein per serving.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2022
For example, throughout Daughter there’s persistent use of non-source music, (a theme from Bela Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta).
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022
Having a multi-source strategy in place and several suppliers supporting the same supply base in different regions is always a smart move.
—Mahesh Nandyala, Forbes, 25 July 2022
The journey towards this new initiative was filled with legal and political drama, though the ultimate result codifies the multi-cloud, multi-source strategy.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
Survey results show that 73% of respondents are likely to co-source critical activities with the next 24 months.
—Rose Celestin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2021
Noun
One of the sources said most of the reductions at SAIC-VW would come through payouts offered to resigning low performers.
—Zhang Yan, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2024
Even worse, researchers are finding the AI often elevates lower-quality sites as reliable sources of information.
—Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Gaza's people, including the small Christian community there, have been a source of constant concern for Francis, and Easter in the Holy Land overall was a somber affair this year given the war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Held in the Los Angeles County jail, Abrego was beaten and stabbed by other inmates, a law enforcement source said.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Monk is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right MCL sprain, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
The rest of the money needed for the project would come from undetermined sources, likely including the city and the state.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Regardless of your writing project, unreliable or biased sources are a great way to torpedo your work—and any hope of future work.
—Estelle Erasmus, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
Two security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the strike was carried out by a Turkish drone.
—Mohamed Gabobe, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
Verb
It was concocted by a French baker in the nineteen-twenties, but was named either for its main ingredient, almonds sourced from Crimea, or for the sprinkling of powdered sugar on top that recalls the snowy Siberian steppes.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
For instance, Its chocolates are unequally divided (unlike other bars which are split up in symmetric squares or rectangles) to serve as a constant reminder of the inequality that comes with sourcing cocoa.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 30 Mar. 2024
This approach is what University of Tennessee researchers coined a ‘Vested’ sourcing business model because the buying organization and the supplier have a vested interest in the outcomes and each other’s success.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It’s also deeply committed to supporting local agriculture, sourcing as much as possible from nearby farmers, plus seasonal produce from its farm in North Stonington, Connecticut.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
The firm, which has roots in Singapore and Bengaluru, India, sources its location data from advertising exchanges—companies that quietly interact with billions of devices as users browse the web and move about the world.
—Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
In a statement, an Airbus spokesperson said the company did not comment on sourcing volumes and supplier contracts but was complying with all prevailing sanctions against Russia.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Yet hotels continue to act like scrapping single-use soaps and sourcing their restaurant food locally will reverse climate change.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
Locally sourced fish and produce are the focal points of the multi-course meal.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Modern orchestration software, along with a multi-source strategy—which lends itself to multiple clouds—can allow enterprises to get the most value out of their data.
—Quentin Clark, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Our allergen-friendly Plant Protein Powder is a premium quality, multi-source plant protein blend that contains 20g of protein per serving.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2022
For example, throughout Daughter there’s persistent use of non-source music, (a theme from Bela Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta).
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022
Having a multi-source strategy in place and several suppliers supporting the same supply base in different regions is always a smart move.
—Mahesh Nandyala, Forbes, 25 July 2022
The journey towards this new initiative was filled with legal and political drama, though the ultimate result codifies the multi-cloud, multi-source strategy.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
Survey results show that 73% of respondents are likely to co-source critical activities with the next 24 months.
—Rose Celestin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'source.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sours, from Anglo-French surse spring, source, from past participle of surdre to rise, spring forth, from Latin surgere — more at surge
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1957, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1959, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of source was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing source
Dictionary Entries Near source
Cite this Entry
“Source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/source. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
source
nounˈsō(ə)rs,
ˈsȯ(ə)rs
1
a
: a force that gives rise to something : cause
a source of strength
b
: a point where something begins
c
: a person or a publication that supplies information
2
: the beginning of a stream of water
the source of the Nile
3
: a firsthand document or main reference work
Legal Definition
source
noun1
: a point of origin
the source of the conflict
2
: one that supplies information
a journalist's source
More from Merriam-Webster on source
Nglish: Translation of source for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of source for Arabic Speakers
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