providence

B2 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /ˈpɹɑvɪdəns/ UK /ˈpɹɒvɪdəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #11863

Meanings

1

noun
the protective guidance, care, or ordering of events attributed to God or another divine power

They regarded their unexpected rescue as an act of divine providence.
2

noun
foresight and prudent preparation for future needs; now chiefly formal or historical

Through careful providence, the village stored enough grain for the winter.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the protective guidance,... divine caredivine guidancedivine will

2 noun · foresight and prudent... foresight prudence forethought

Opposites

improvidence negligence recklessness

Word family

Derived forms providential providentially

Related forms provide provident fate divine

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

divine providence
protective care believed to be exercised by a god over human affairs

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-French providence, from Latin providentia ('foresight, precaution'), based on providere ('to foresee, attend to, or provide'). The religious sense treats God's foresight as active care and governance of creation.

Topics

Religion & Belief Register & Style

External links

# providence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɹɑvɪdəns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɹɒvɪdəns/
**Frequency rank:** 11863

## Meanings
1. the protective guidance, care, or ordering of events attributed to God or another divine power
2. foresight and prudent preparation for future needs; now chiefly formal or historical

## Examples
- They regarded their unexpected rescue as an act of divine providence.
- Through careful providence, the village stored enough grain for the winter.

## Synonyms
- divine care
- divine guidance
- foresight
- prudence

## Antonyms
- improvidence
- negligence
- recklessness

## Derived Forms
- providential
- providentially

## Related Forms
- provide
- provident
- fate
- divine

## Etymology
From Middle English and Anglo-French providence, from Latin providentia ('foresight, precaution'), based on providere ('to foresee, attend to, or provide'). The religious sense treats God's foresight as active care and governance of creation.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief
- Register & Style

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