# supply

> English word · Verb · IPA /səˈplaɪ/ · frequency rank #1,651

## Definitions
1. To provide (something), to make (something) available for use.
2. To furnish or equip with.
3. To fill up, or keep full.
4. To compensate for, or make up a deficiency of.
5. To serve instead of; to take the place of.
6. To act as a substitute.
7. To fill temporarily; to serve as substitute for another in, as a vacant place or office; to occupy; to have possession of.

## Etymology
From Middle English supplien, borrowed from Old French soupleer, souploier, from Latin suppleo (“to fill up, make full, complete, supply”).
The Middle English spelling was modified to conform to Latin etymology.

## Easily confused with
- **surly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/supply-vs-surly)
- **surely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/supply-vs-surely)
- **supp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/supp-vs-supply)
- **sully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sully-vs-supply)
- **sappy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sappy-vs-supply)
- **simply** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simply-vs-supply)
- **supper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/supper-vs-supply)
- **subtly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/subtly-vs-supply)
- **supple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/supple-vs-supply)

## Common misspellings (8)
`spuply`, `ssupply`, `suplpy`, `suply`, `supplly`, `supplyy`, `suppyl`, `uspply`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/supply