What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
supplying
Example
The company is responsible for supplying the raw materials for production. [supplying: verb]
Example
The government is supplying food and water to the disaster victims. [supplying: gerund or present participle]
providing
Example
The school is providing free textbooks to all students. [providing: verb]
Example
The hotel is providing shuttle service to and from the airport. [providing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Providing is more commonly used than supplying in everyday language. Providing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while supplying is less common and refers to a more specific type of provision.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between supplying and providing?
Providing is generally considered more formal than supplying. While supplying can be used in both formal and informal contexts, providing is more appropriate for formal situations such as business or academic writing.