English Reference

Word

supply

Phoneticssup·ply, stress on the second syllable

/səˈpɫaɪ/

Definitions

01to provide

B1 · Intermediate

v. to give or sell something to someone who needs it.

v. to provide or make something available for use, typically on a large scale or over a period of time.

“The local farm supplies the supermarket with fresh vegetables every morning.”

“The regional utility company supplies electricity to over two million households across the province.”

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'with' for the recipient or 'to' for the item.

Pitfall

The company supplies to us the parts.

The company supplies us with the parts.

Use the pattern 'supply someone with something' or 'supply something to someone'.

Antonyms

02available amount

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. an amount of something that is ready to be used.

n. a quantity of something provided or available for use.

“We have a large supply of water in the basement in case of an emergency.”

“The sudden increase in demand exhausted the existing supply of timber, causing prices to spike across the construction industry.”

Antonyms

03economics

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Mathematics Academic

n. the amount of a product that is available for people to buy.

n. the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to consumers at a particular price.

“The price of gold changes based on supply and demand.”

“Economists argue that when supply exceeds demand, market prices inevitably drop to encourage further consumption.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04equipment/provisions

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun

n. the tools, food, or other things you need for a specific task or trip.

n. necessary items or provisions required for a specific purpose, often used in the plural.

“The children bought their school supplies, including pens and notebooks, before the first day.”

“The expedition team spent weeks gathering medical supplies and non-perishable food for the journey across the desert.”

05substitute teacher

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun British English

n. a teacher who works for a short time when the regular teacher is away.

n. a person, especially a teacher, who acts as a temporary substitute for another.

“Our regular maths teacher is sick, so we have a supply teacher today.”

“The school relies heavily on supply staff during the winter months when seasonal illnesses are more common.”

Collocations

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

Verb

01. cut supply

“The company threatened to cut supply if the bills were not paid.”

verb + noun

Adjective

02. constant supply

“The brain requires a constant supply of oxygen to function correctly.”

adj + noun

Noun

03. chain of supply

“Any break in the chain of supply can cause delays for the customer.”

noun + prep + noun

04. supply chain

05. supply chains

06. an endless supply of

“The internet provides an endless supply of information on every topic.”

07. supply management

08. supply issues

09. supplied the gun

10. supply lines

11. supply power

12. supply shortages

Real-World Examples

“As well as getting emergency supplies, this includes preparing your home, making an escape plan if you need to leave it and swapping contact details with neighbours.”
BBC News 27 Sept 2026
“LONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Global oil supply and demand look set to fall further than previously expected this year, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, as a lack of progress in ending the conflict in the Middle East delays the return of normal Gulf oil flows into 2027 and sends fuel prices soaring.”
Reuters 11 Sept 2026
“LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Global oil supply will fall short of total demand this year as the Iran war wreaks havoc on Middle East oil production and drains inventories at an unprecedented pace, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday, upending its earlier outlook calling for a surplus.”
Reuters 13 May 2026
“Almost a third of bosses have reported an increase in cyber-attacks on their supply chains over the past six months, as the fallout from devastating hacks on corporate stalwarts including Jaguar Land Rover highlighted a growing threat to businesses.”
The Guardian 6 Oct 2025

Etymology

From Middle English supplien, borrowed from Old French soupleer, souploier, from Latin suppleo (“to fill up, make full, complete, supply”). The Middle English spelling was modified to conform to Latin etymology.

From supple + -ly.

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

Word family

NOUN

supply(B1)

Related words

Domain

Economics

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
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/supply

English Reference