supply

verb sup·ply \ sə-ˈplī \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: supply in a Sentence

Definition of supply

supplied; supplying

transitive verb

1 : to add as a supplement

[Middle French souploier, alteration of soupplier]

a : to provide for : satisfy

laws by which the material wants of men are supplied
—Bulletin of Bates College

b : to make available for use : provide

supplied the necessary funds

c : to satisfy the needs or wishes of

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

3 : to substitute for another in; specifically : to serve as a supply in (a church or pulpit)

intransitive verb

: to serve as a supply or substitute

—

supplier

play \sə-ˈplī(-ə)r\ noun

See supply defined for English-language learners

See supply defined for kids

Examples of supply in a Sentence

The company supplied the necessary money.
You'll have to supply your own food.

Recent Examples of supply from the Web

And without vanilla, some 80,000 farmers in Madagascar, which supplies 80% of the world’s crop, would lose their livelihood.

— aryn baker/sahabevava, Time, "Vanilla Is Nearly as Expensive as Silver. That Spells Trouble for Madagascar," 13 June 2018
Lockheed Martin, which supplies the Pentagon with air and missile defense systems as well as the F-35 Stealth fighter jet, tumbled 1%.

— adam shell, USA TODAY, "Trump, Kim handshake, talk of peace sinks U.S. defense stocks," 12 June 2018
So did the Harbor Police Department, which supplies the drug to officers on vehicles and vessels.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Use of drug that reverses overdoses to expand to police, school campuses," 11 June 2018
Just days before their opening World Cup match against Morocco, Iran is scrambling to find a new footwear situation after Nike, which previously supplied the team's boots, announced it would not longer do so.

— nihal kolur, SI.com, "Nike Withdraws Iran World Cup Team's Boots Due to Sanctions," 11 June 2018
The toxins were caused by algae blooms found last week in the Detroit Reservoir, which supplies water to the cities of Salem and Turner, as well as the Suburban East Salem Water District and Orchard Heights Water Association.

— molly harbarger, OregonLive.com, "Salem lifts water advisory after tests confirm drop in toxin levels," 3 June 2018
Arena Americas, which supplies tents and staging supplies for sports and over events, is currently located at 7000 S. 10th St, A new 105,000 square-foot industrial facility will be built in the Oakview Business Park at 10861 S. Howell Ave.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Arena Americas moving to a new facility in Oak Creek," 16 May 2018
Atrium's decision ends a nearly 40-year relationship with Southeast, which supplies about 90 anesthesiologists to the hospital system.

— deon roberts, charlotteobserver, "Group seeks court order to stop Atrium from using new anesthesiologists July 1 | Charlotte Observer," 14 May 2018
About 20,000 people, including 1,730 children age 5 and younger, live within a mile of the site, which supplies raw materials to northwest Indiana steel mills.

— michael hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "Manganese pollution in Southeast Side yards prompts new EPA probe," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'supply.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of supply

Middle English supplien to complete, compensate for, from Middle French soupplier, from Latin supplēre to fill up, complete, raise (a military unit, crew) to its full complement, substitute, from sub- up + plēre to fill — more at sub-, full

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

supply Synonyms

supply

noun

Definition of supply

plural supplies

1 obsolete : assistance, succor

2 a obsolete : reinforcements —often used in plural

b : a member of the clergy filling a vacant pulpit temporarily

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

beer was in short supply in that hot weather
—Nevil Shute

d : provisions, stores —usually used in plural

3 : the act or process of filling a want or need

engaged in the supply of raw materials to industry

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

5 : something that maintains or constitutes a supply

See supply defined for English-language learners

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 of supply from the Web

Welcome Home Kits usually include small appliances, utensils, sheets, towels, and cleaning supplies.

— zoie matthew, Los Angeles Magazine, "Here’s What’s Being Done to End L.A.’s Homelessness Crisis," 14 June 2018
Construction goods and building supplies have been a major source of sales taxes, City Manager Jack Griffin said, as the region has seen an uptick in housing construction.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Marcos passes $77 million budget, adds a new school resource officer," 14 June 2018
Emma-Rae Pinson of Roswell started a GoFundMe page started to help the men buy basic living supplies.

— fleming smith, ajc, "JUST IN: Gas leak in dryer caused Roswell home explosion, officials say," 14 June 2018
The couple adopted the four children, and as a family, the Scheers began compiling supplies to donate to local foster children.

— laura klairmont, CNN, "How a nightmare childhood inspired his one-of-a-kind gifts," 14 June 2018
Showing support for industry amid the turmoil, Trudeau met Tuesday with a group of farmers in Ottawa who benefit from the supply management system that has drawn the ire of Trump.

— josh wingrove, Bloomberg.com, "Support at Home Helps Trudeau Stay the Course After Trump’s Threats," 13 June 2018
Between them, the two countries have already each added more than 100,000 barrels a day to global oil supplies.

— clifford krauss, New York Times, "United States, Saudi Arabia and Russia Find Agreement on Oil Policy," 13 June 2018
According to plea agreements of the two men, members of the Gun Trace Task Force searched a South Baltimore pigeon supply store in June 2014.

— tim prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Pennsylvania man sentenced to 8 years for robbery alongside Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force officer," 13 June 2018
Each student pays $60 to enroll, which helps finance work supplies during the three-day camp.

— charlene santiago, star-telegram, "Thanks to these teens, Arlington residents in need are getting free home makeovers," 13 June 2018

First Known Use of supply

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

supply Synonyms

Synonyms

budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock;

Related Words

reserve, resource;

cache, hoard, stockpile;

refill, renewal, replacement;

kitty, nest egg, pot, purse;

fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring;

SUPPLY Defined for English Language Learners

supply

verb

Definition of supply for English Language Learners

: to make (something) available to be used : to provide someone or something with (something that is needed or wanted)

supply

noun

Definition of supply for English Language Learners

: the amount of something that is available to be used
supplies : things (such as food, equipment, fuel, etc.) that are needed for a particular purpose and that will be used by a particular person or group
: the process or system by which something is provided to a person, place, etc.

SUPPLY Defined for Kids

supply

verb sup·ply \ sə-ˈplī \

Definition of supply for Students

supplied; supplying

1 : to provide for : satisfy

There is enough to supply the demand.

2 : to make available : furnish

The tree supplies shade.

supply

noun

Definition of supply for Students

plural supplies

1 : the amount of something that is needed or can be gotten

medical supplies

2 : ²store 3

I keep a supply of pencils in my desk.

3 : the act or process of providing something

The company is engaged in the supply of raw materials.

Medical Dictionary

supply

transitive verb sup·ply \ sə-ˈplī \

medical Definition of supply

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

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See words that rhyme with supply Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for supply Spanish Central: Translation of supply Nglish: Translation of supply for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of supply for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about supply

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supply

Definition of supply

supplier

Examples of supply in a Sentence

Recent Examples of supply from the Web

Origin and Etymology of supply

supply Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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supply

Definition of supply

Examples of supply in a Sentence

Recent Examples of supply from the Web

First Known Use of supply

supply Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

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SUPPLY Defined for English Language Learners

supply

Definition of supply for English Language Learners

supply

Definition of supply for English Language Learners

SUPPLY Defined for Kids

supply

Definition of supply for Students

supply

Definition of supply for Students

Medical Dictionary

supply

medical Definition of supply

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