providence

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablereligion

   The belief that God or a higher power watches over and guides events in the world.

   Grammar: Has no plural in this sense and is often capitalized: trust in Providence.

   Patterns

   • divine providence
   • trust in providence

   Many of the settlers believed that providence had brought them safely across the ocean.

   She trusted in divine providence when the harvest failed.

   The preacher spoke of providence as a hand guiding every life.

2. 2noununcountableliterary

   A fortunate event or run of luck that seems arranged for someone's benefit.

   Grammar: Usually lowercase and used in a slightly literary way: by sheer providence, the bus was late.

   Patterns

   • by providence
   • a stroke of providence

   By some providence, the rain stopped just before the ceremony began.

   He thought it providence that the lost letter turned up the day before the deadline.

   It was providence, she felt, that the two old friends happened to sit side by side.

3. 3noununcountablearchaic

   Careful planning for future needs; wise foresight in managing resources.

   Grammar: Old-fashioned sense meaning wise foresight; today it survives mainly in historical writing and in the related word improvident.

   Patterns

   • with providence

   The old farmer's providence kept the family fed through three bad winters.

   A ruler without providence soon found the treasury empty.

   Their providence in saving grain made the village stronger.

Common combinations

divine providence

The old sailor credited divine providence for his survival.

trust in providence

With no plan left, they had to trust in providence.

act of providence

The sudden offer of a job felt like an act of providence.

by providence

By providence, the doctor was staying in the same hotel.

tempt providence

Sailing in that storm would be tempting providence.

Synonyms and how they differ

fate

Fate suggests events fixed in advance and often cannot be changed, while providence implies a caring power guiding them.

destiny

Destiny stresses a person's future path, whereas providence stresses the care that watches over it.

luck

Luck is a plain, everyday word for chance, while providence gives the good fortune a sense of purpose.

Opposites

Word family

provident adjective

careful about preparing for the future

providential adjective

happening at a very lucky or helpful moment

providentially adverb

in a lucky way that seems arranged

improvident adjective

not planning ahead, wasteful

Commonly confused: providence or provenance? providence or province?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “providence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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