supply

noun

sup·​ply sə-ˈplī 

plural supplies

1

a

: the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available

Beer was in short supply in that hot weather …

—Nevil Shute

b

: provisions, stores

—usually used in plural

c

: a member of the clergy filling a vacant pulpit temporarily

d

obsolete : reinforcements

—often used in plural

2

: the act or process of filling a want or need

engaged in the supply of raw materials to industry

3

: the quantities of goods or services offered for sale at a particular time or at one price

4

: something that maintains or constitutes a supply

5

obsolete : assistance, succor

Synonyms of supply

• inventory
• repertoire
• pool
• stock
• reservoir

Examples of supply in a Sentence

adequate supplies of fresh water

He bought a month's supply of cigarettes.

They took a month's worth of supplies on the camping trip.

The town is in need of basic medical supplies.

a store that sells art supplies

The state is trying to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs.

The storm interrupted the town's electricity supply.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yung-Shin Kung said that CTAs had captured the rally in precious metals, primarily silver and gold, at the beginning of the year, before switching to industrial metals that are poised to benefit from AI infrastructure investment and supply constraints caused by the Iran war. —Hugh Leask, CNBC, 5 June 2026

Overnight camping cabin guests should also pack bedding and all cooking and eating supplies. —Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 4 June 2026

Fourth walls are shattered, hoary tropes are dismantled, the body count climbs and a joke gets thrown in about the endless supply of Wayanses ready to keep the franchise going. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Gasoline, food and other everyday essentials are also being hit by these supply shocks. —ABC News, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of supply entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing supply

• in short supply
• law of supply and demand
• money supply
• office supply
• supply and demand
• supply chain
• supply line
• supply-side
• supply-side economics
• supply teacher
• the money supply
• water supply

Rhymes for supply

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

supply

1 of 2 verb

sup·​ply sə-ˈplī 

supplied; supplying

1

: to add as a supplement

2

a

: to provide for : satisfy

enough to supply the demand

b

: to make available for use

supplied the necessary money

c

: to satisfy the needs or wishes of

supplier

-ˈplī(-ə)r 

noun

supply

2 of 2 noun

plural supplies

1

a

: the quantity or amount of something that is needed or available

the nation's oil supply

b

: store entry 2 sense 1b

—usually used in plural

2

: the act or process of filling a want or need

3

: the quantities of goods or services offered for sale at a particular time or at one price

Medical Definition

supply

transitive verb

sup·​ply sə-ˈplī 

supplied; supplying

: to furnish (organs, tissues, or cells) with a vital element (as blood or nerve fibers)

—used of nerves and blood vessels

the mandibular foramen transmits blood vessels and nerves supplying the lower teeth