PROVIDENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does provident mean? 

• PROVIDENT (adjective)
  The adjective PROVIDENT has 2 senses:

1. providing carefully for the future

2. careful in regard to your own interests

  Familiarity information: PROVIDENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROVIDENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Providing carefully for the future

Context example:

a provident father plans for his children's education

Similar:

careful; thrifty (mindful of the future in spending money)

farseeing; farsighted; foresighted; foresightful; long; longsighted; prospicient (planning prudently for the future)

forehanded (having provided for the future)

forethoughtful (thoughtful of the future)

Also:

prudent (careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment)

farsighted; presbyopic (able to see distant objects clearly)

thrifty (careful and diligent in the use of resources)

Antonym:

improvident (not provident; not providing for the future)

Derivation:

provide (take measures in preparation for)

providence (the prudence and care exercised by someone in the management of resources)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Careful in regard to your own interests

Context example:

wild squirrels are provident

Similar:

prudent (careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment)

Derivation:

providence (the prudence and care exercised by someone in the management of resources)

 Context examples 

But she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)