supply

verb sup·ply \ sə-ˈplī \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

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

Seeing my classroom would lead people to think things are great because my room is well supplied.

— New York Times, "25-Year-Old Textbooks and Holes in the Ceiling: Inside America’s Public Schools," 16 Apr. 2018
The food, as well as blankets, mattresses and medicine, is supplied by the Syrian government, the U.N. and local organizations.

— Washington Post, "Syrians displaced near capital recall years of deprivation," 15 Apr. 2018
Washingtonian first noted on Tuesday that Zuckerberg’s chair was outfitted with a thick extra cushion, which was reportedly supplied to him by Congress.

— jamie ducharme, Fortune, "Mark Zuckerberg's "Booster Seat" Has the Internet Riled Up. But There May Be a Good Medical Reason for It," 11 Apr. 2018
Bacon was supplied by Smith Meat Packing at Detroit's Eastern Market.

— susan selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Clinton Township's Crazy Gringo taco dish sizzles as the winner at Bacon Bash," 8 Apr. 2018
For the last four years, Flint residents were supplied with the free water as part of a federal aid package, CNN explains.

— lauren rearick, Teen Vogue, "Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Has Ended the Distribution of Free Bottled Water to Flint Residents," 8 Apr. 2018
That made Britain more reliant on gas imports from Norway and from mainland Europe, most of which is supplied by Russia.

— anna shiryaevskaya, Houston Chronicle, "LNG shipments to U.K. increase as U.S. ramps up," 6 Apr. 2018
Both were supplied by Lesslie's co-conspirators, who were not named in court records.

— hanna krueger, NOLA.com, "Argument escalates to gunfire Wednesday in New Orleans East: NOPD," 5 Apr. 2018
Grasses may need a lot more water than can be sustainably supplied, for instance.

— chris lee, Ars Technica, "Lumber’s lure: Thanks to physics, viable biofuel may grow in the woods," 5 Apr. 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

If two such firms exist along a supply chain, prices are inflated at each stage.

— The Economist, "Prescription debateShould regulators block CVS from buying Aetna?," 4 Nov. 2017
Rare that a food recall reaches a national fishing store chain, a Northwest U.S. farm and ranch supply store chain, a Midwest sporting goods/power tools chain and a Florida theme park.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "More chocolate with unnamed ingredient is recalled from major retailers," 1 Nov. 2017
It’s make or break time for Apple Inc.’s supply chain.

— brian baskin, WSJ, "Today’s Top Supply Chain and Logistics News From WSJ," 27 Oct. 2017
In that interim, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce go to thermonuclear war with the Trumpen proletariat, while Establishment Republicans would put supply chains before party, and struggle to usurp the president’s authority over trade.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Is Trump Leading Congressional Republicans to Slaughter?," 17 Oct. 2017
The island's healthcare system is in crisis, as supplies of medicine and diesel fuel—which supplies generators while just 16 percent of the island has power—are perilously low.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Dear President Trump: Puerto Rico Is Not Just Another Money Problem," 12 Oct. 2017
Walmart managed its supply chain with extraordinary precision.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "Sears Was the Amazon of Its Time—Until It Made These Big Mistakes," 4 Oct. 2017
Camp Nelson was established by President Lincoln as a 4,000 acre supply and training Union camp in 1863.

— nancy stearns theiss, The Courier-Journal, "The unique Civil War heritage of Kentucky's Camp Nelson, Part II," 1 Nov. 2017
That’s between 275% and 550% of the total cost of the $200 billion corporate tax cut—implying a supply-side effect that’s more than a little far-fetched . . .

— bess levin, vanityfair.com, "Republicans Consider Pretending to Hate Millionaires to Cut Their Taxes," 23 Oct. 2017

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

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supplier

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Origin and Etymology of supply

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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

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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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