VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

resource

noun, verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/rɪˈsɔːs/ or /ˈriːsɔːs/
US/ˈriːsɔːrs/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    Something you can use to get a job done or meet a need, such as money, supplies, time or skill.

    Grammar: Countable, often plural: limited resources.

    Patterns

    • a resource for something
    • resources to do something

    The school has few resources for art classes.

    Time is our most valuable resource.

    Libraries are a great resource for students.

  2. nouncountable

    A natural material or supply, such as water, oil or timber, that people can use.

    Grammar: Often natural resources.

    Patterns

    • natural resources

    Oil is a valuable natural resource.

    The island has limited water resources.

  3. nouncountable

    A person or thing that provides help, information or support.

    Grammar: Countable: a useful resource.

    Patterns

    • a resource for someone

    Our grandmother is a resource for family history.

    The website is a free resource for teachers.

  4. verbtransitivebusiness

    To supply with what is needed, such as money or equipment.

    Grammar: Takes an object; common in business English.

    Patterns

    • resource a project

    The project was poorly resourced.

    We need to resource the new team properly.

Word forms

pluralresources
third person singularresources
past tenseresourced
-ing formresourcing

Common combinations

natural resources
Natural resources are limited.
limited resources
We work with limited resources.
human resources
Human resources handles hiring.
allocate resources
Managers allocate resources.
drain resources
The war drained resources.

Synonyms and how they differ

asset
Something valuable owned, especially in business.
supply
A stock of something, not necessarily a useful means.
means
More formal, stresses a way of achieving something.

Word family

resourceful adjective
good at finding ways to solve problems
resourcefulness noun
skill in solving problems

Commonly confused: resource or source?

resource vs source

A source is where something comes from; a resource is something you can use.

Practice

Which phrase means the stock of things like water and coal?

Make it your own

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

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words