plural supplies
1
a
: the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available
beer was in short supply in that hot weather—
Nevil Shute
Nevil Shute
b
: provisions, stores
—usually used in plural
c
: a member of the clergy filling a vacant pulpit temporarily
d
obsolete
: reinforcements
—often used in plural
2
: the act or process of filling a want or need
engaged in the supply of raw materials to industry
3
: the quantities of goods or services offered for sale at a particular time or at one price
4
: something that maintains or constitutes a supply
5
obsolete
: assistance, succor
supplied; supplying
1
a
: to make available for use : provide
supplied the necessary funds
b
: to satisfy the needs or wishes of
c
: to provide for : satisfy
laws by which the material wants of men are supplied—Bulletin of Bates College
Bulletin of Bates College
d
: to furnish (organs, tissues, or cells) with a vital element (such as blood or nerve fibers)
2
: to substitute for another in
specifically
: to serve as a supply in (a church or pulpit)
3
: to add as a supplement
: to serve as a supply or substitute
supply
3 of 3less common spelling of supplely
Examples of supply in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
The company supplied the necessary money.
You'll have to supply your own food.
Recent Examples on the Web
Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Here, 8x8-inch half-cinder blocks are artfully stacked to create stylish storage compartments for garden tools, art supplies, or refreshing snacks.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
My own writing since then has sketched out some of the consequences of its fiscal crisis for operations and provided a history of the budget plans and projections that its leadership has supplied to its trustees and, by extension, to the ratings agencies.
—Clifford Ando, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for supply
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Inventory for luxury listings, while improved from pandemic lows, remains modest—about three to four months of supply versus the six months that would mark true balance.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Here, 8x8-inch half-cinder blocks are artfully stacked to create stylish storage compartments for garden tools, art supplies, or refreshing snacks.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
In addition to serving its retail locations, Express Kitchens supplies cabinets for the country’s largest residential property developers such Toll Brothers and Winn Management, as well as Home Depot.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
My own writing since then has sketched out some of the consequences of its fiscal crisis for operations and provided a history of the budget plans and projections that its leadership has supplied to its trustees and, by extension, to the ratings agencies.
—Clifford Ando, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for supply
Cite this Entry
“Supply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supply. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
supply
2 of 2 noun
plural supplies
1
a
: the quantity or amount of something that is needed or available
the nation's oil supply
b
: store entry 2 sense 1b
—usually used in plural
2
: the act or process of filling a want or need
3
: the quantities of goods or services offered for sale at a particular time or at one price
Medical Definition
supply
transitive verb
sup·ply
sə-ˈplī 
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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