resource
rih-ZAWS
Resource (noun) means something available to be used to achieve a goal, such as materials, money, or people. Example: “The school lacks the resources for a new library.”
noun
1
Something available to be used to achieve a goal, such as materials, money, or people.
"The school lacks the resources for a new library."
"Water is a precious natural resource in the region."
"The library is a free resource for students who need books and computers."
2
A person's inner ability to cope with a difficult situation.
"She showed great resource in handling the crisis alone."
"Lost and without a phone, she relied on her own resources to get home."
"Alone in the forest, he drew on his inner resource to stay calm."
How to use resource
Learner’s notes
Easily confused with
Common pairings
natural resources
human resources
limited resources
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Word forms
- Plural
- resources
- Third person singular
- resources
- Past tense
- resourced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The school lacks the _____ for a new library.
Etymology
From Middle French ressource, ultimately from Latin resurgo, "to rise again" — related to "resurgent".
Related words
Rhymes for resource
See all rhymes for resource →Frequently asked questions
What does “resource” mean?
The word “resource” means something available to be used to achieve a goal, such as materials, money, or people.
How do you pronounce “resource”?
“Resource” is pronounced rih-ZAWS (/ˈɹisɔɹs/ in IPA).
How do you use “resource” in a sentence?
Here is “resource” used in a sentence: “The school lacks the resources for a new library.”
What part of speech is “resource”?
“Resource” is a noun.
Where does the word “resource” come from?
The word “resource” comes from Latin. From Middle French ressource, ultimately from Latin resurgo, "to rise again" — related to "resurgent".
Is “resource” a common word?
“Resource” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “resource” have?
“Resource” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something available to be used to achieve a goal, such as materials, money, or people.
What is the difference between a resource and a source?
A source is where something comes from, such as the source of a river or the source of a quotation. A resource is something available to be used to achieve a goal, such as materials, money, or people. A library book can be both: the source of a fact and a resource for your research.
What are natural resources?
Natural resources are materials that occur in nature and are available for people to use, such as water, timber, minerals, and fertile land. The phrase applies the core meaning of resource, something usable to achieve a goal, to what the natural world supplies. They are often described as renewable or non-renewable depending on whether they can be replaced.
Why is it called human resources?
The term human resources treats an organisation's people as one of the resources available to achieve its goals, alongside money and materials. The human resources (HR) department is the part of a company that recruits, supports, and manages employees. The phrase is always plural in this fixed expression.
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