Meaning & use
resources
Last updated
“resources” is a form of “resource”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Supplies of money, materials, staff or other assets that a person, group or country can use when needed.
Grammar: Plural: the school has limited resources.
Patterns
- resources for something
- limited resources
The charity has limited resources, so it relies on volunteers.
Hospitals need more resources to cope with demand.
The company put all its resources into the new product.
nounplural
Natural materials found in a country or region, such as water, oil, forests and minerals, that can be used.
Grammar: Often with natural: natural resources.
Patterns
- natural resources
The country is rich in natural resources.
Water resources are shrinking in the region.
Protecting forest resources is a long-term goal.
nounplural
Useful materials such as books, websites and tools that help people learn or do something.
Grammar: Plural: online resources, teaching resources.
Patterns
- resources for something
The library offers free resources for job seekers.
Teachers share online resources with their classes.
This site lists resources for first-time homebuyers.
Word forms
| singular | resource |
|---|
Common combinations
- natural resources
- The island depends on natural resources like fish.
- limited resources
- With limited resources, we must plan carefully.
- human resources
- She works in human resources at a large firm.
- allocate resources
- The manager must allocate resources among the teams.
- drain resources
- Constant repairs drain the town's resources.
- online resources
- The course provides online resources for students.
Synonyms and how they differ
- supplies
- Are physical things like food or equipment, while resources can also mean money or people.
- assets
- Are valuable things someone owns, usually in business or finance.
- funds
- Means money only, whereas resources covers more kinds of help.
- materials
- Are things used to make or learn something, a narrower idea than resources.
Opposites
Word family
- resource noun
- a single supply or source of help
- resourceful adjective
- good at finding ways to solve problems
- resourcefulness noun
- the ability to solve problems cleverly
- resource verb
- to provide with resources, used in business and education
Commonly confused: resources or sources?
resources vs sources
Sources are where information or supplies come from; resources are the supplies or assets you can use.
Practice
The small clinic cannot treat more patients because it lacks the money and staff, in other words the necessary ____.
Choose one answer.
Resources are money, staff and supplies that can be used. Sources are origins of something, which is the tempting but wrong choice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “resources”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.