English Reference

Word

resource

Phoneticsre·source, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈɹisɔɹs/

UK/ɹɪzˈɔːs/

Definitions

01materials or money

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun General-service

n. a supply of money, materials, or staff that a person or country can use.

n. a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.

“The country has many natural resources like oil and timber.”

“The project failed not because of a lack of talent, but because the team lacked the financial resources to see it through to completion.”

Usage

Often used in the plural form when referring to general assets or natural wealth.

02learning materials

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Academic

n. a book, website, or piece of equipment that provides information or help.

n. a source of information or expertise, such as a textbook or digital tool, used to facilitate learning or research.

“The library is an excellent resource for students writing their final papers.”

“Teachers are encouraged to share digital resources to ensure that all students have access to high-quality primary source materials.”

Synonyms

03personal strength

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. your own ability to help yourself and deal with difficult situations.

n. the internal capacity or strength of character to deal with new or difficult situations.

“Left alone in the woods, he had to rely on his own resources to survive.”

“The crisis tested her inner resources, forcing her to find a level of patience she didn't know she possessed.”

04computing

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a part of a computer system, like memory or a printer, that a program can use.

n. any physical or virtual component of limited availability within a computer system.

“The new software uses too many system resources and makes my laptop slow.”

“The administrator allocated additional server resources to handle the expected spike in web traffic during the holiday sale.”

Synonyms

05to provide supplies

C1 · Advanced Formal · Academic

v. to provide a person or project with the money or materials they need.

v. to provide an organization or project with the necessary materials, staff, or funds.

“The school is not well resourced and needs more computers.”

“The government has promised to properly resource the new mental health initiative to ensure its long-term success.”

Usage

Commonly used in the passive voice or as a past-participle adjective.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “resource” in context.

Verb

01. allocate resource

“The government needs to allocate more resources to improve the local schools.”

verb + noun

02. devote resource

“We must devote more resources to finding a cure for this disease.”

verb + noun

03. exploit resource

“Companies often exploit natural resources without considering the environment.”

verb + noun

04. lack resource

“Many small businesses lack the resources to compete with large corporations.”

verb + noun

05. provide resource

“The library provides excellent resources for students doing research.”

verb + noun

06. require resource

“Building a new hospital will require significant financial resources.”

verb + noun

Adjective

07. additional resource

“If you need additional resources, please visit our website for more information.”

adj + noun

08. economic resource

“Tourism has become a vital economic resource for the island's population.”

adj + noun

Noun

09. human resource

“The human resources department is responsible for hiring new employees.”

noun + noun

10. natural resource

“Oil is a natural resource that many countries rely on for energy.”

noun + noun

11. resources like

12. resources available

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French ressource, from Old French resourse, resource (“a source, spring”), from resourdre, from Latin resurgō (“to rise again, spring up anew”). Equivalent to re- + source. See resourd, resurgent, source.

From re- + source.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

resource(B1)

Domain

Computing

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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