# supply

/səˈpɫaɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/supply
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to provide

verb · CEFR B1

to give or sell something to someone who needs it.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. available amount

noun · CEFR B1

an amount of something that is ready to be used.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. economics

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. equipment/provisions

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. substitute teacher

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The store has a large supply of fresh fruit.
- The factory stopped production because the supply of raw materials was delayed by the storm.
- Economists argue that when the supply of a product exceeds the current demand, prices naturally drop until the market reaches a new equilibrium.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.