What does "resource" mean?
Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
Resource
/ɹɪˈzɔːs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
- Grammar: resource is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ability, ace in the hole, acquire, action.
- Useful contrasts: barrier, byproducts, conserve.
- Usage evidence: The one resource more precious than any other was land.
How to use "resource"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "resource" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "resource" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "resource" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "resource" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "resource" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ability" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "resource", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
"Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent,[…]. This trend will put additional strain not only on global energy resources but also on the environmental prospects of a warming planet."
- 2 a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed wordnet
- 3 A person's capacity to deal with difficulty.
"a man or woman of resource"
- 4 the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems wordnet
- 5 Something that can be used to help achieve an aim, especially a book, equipment, etc. that provides information for teachers and students.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed wordnet
- 7 Hardware or software that is accessible by a computer, network, or another object connected to a computer.
Verb
- 1 To supply with resources.
"All children receive it and, for the most part, do so in institutions that are approved by the state and, to a greater or lesser extent, resourced by the state."
- 2 To source anew or differently; to find or provide a new source for.
"European retailers resourcing supplies from domestic to foreign firms generate adjustment pressures in the European Union in the same way that cross-border production unbundling does. Also, more channels with a potential impact on[…]"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The one resource more precious than any other was land."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "resource"?
Common synonyms include: ability, ace in the hole, acquire, action, ad hoc measure, address.
How do you use "resource" in a sentence?
The one resource more precious than any other was land.
How do you pronounce "resource"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈzɔːs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Middle French ressource, from Old French resourse, resource (“a source, spring”), from resourdre, from Latin resurgō (“to rise again, spring up anew”). Equivalent to re- + source. See resourd, resurgent, source.
Etymology 2
From re- + source.