providence
noun
prov·i·dence ˈprä-və-dən(t)s 
-ˌden(t)s
1
a
often capitalized : divine guidance or care
b
capitalized : God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny
2
: the quality or state of being provident
Synonyms
- economy
- frugality
- husbandry
- parsimony
- penny-pinching
- scrimping
- skimping
- thrift
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
practicing its customary providence, the snowbound family was able to make the meager stores last until help arrived had the providence to lay in supplies before the storm hit
Recent Examples on the Web Yes, China has a heatwave causing some plants in Sichuan providence to close/limit hours as electricity is directed to air conditioners. 
Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 McWilliams, who made what seemed like his 100th all-name team this offseason, alluded to providence for the defensive line this season but was mum on exactly what to expect when the Blazers open the season against Alabama A&M at Protective Stadium. Evan Dudley, al, 5 Aug. 2022 State media reported the death count and said rescuers were arriving to the providence on helicopters. Landon Mion, Fox News, 22 June 2022 So it’s an accident—maybe an accident caused by providence. Dennis Lim, The New Yorker, 15 May 2022 Directing the classic Russian play, which deals with the loss of one’s home and motherland, is another bit of providence. Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 Nevertheless, the fleeting encounter of the emperor and the philosopher was the stuff of providence—as if the arc of history had intersected with the designs of history’s philosopher-architect. Jeffrey Collins, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022 In the familiar European lore vampires can be repelled with a crucifix, scalded with holy water or burned by sunlight, a longstanding symbol of providence. Roy Schwartz, CNN, 2 Apr. 2022 To him, there’s providence behind the symmetry of the circumstances of his first starts at LSU and Auburn. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 17 Nov. 2021 See More
Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 McWilliams, who made what seemed like his 100th all-name team this offseason, alluded to providence for the defensive line this season but was mum on exactly what to expect when the Blazers open the season against Alabama A&M at Protective Stadium. Evan Dudley, al, 5 Aug. 2022 State media reported the death count and said rescuers were arriving to the providence on helicopters. Landon Mion, Fox News, 22 June 2022 So it’s an accident—maybe an accident caused by providence. Dennis Lim, The New Yorker, 15 May 2022 Directing the classic Russian play, which deals with the loss of one’s home and motherland, is another bit of providence. Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 Nevertheless, the fleeting encounter of the emperor and the philosopher was the stuff of providence—as if the arc of history had intersected with the designs of history’s philosopher-architect. Jeffrey Collins, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022 In the familiar European lore vampires can be repelled with a crucifix, scalded with holy water or burned by sunlight, a longstanding symbol of providence. Roy Schwartz, CNN, 2 Apr. 2022 To him, there’s providence behind the symmetry of the circumstances of his first starts at LSU and Auburn. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 17 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin providentia, from provident-, providens
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
providence
noun
prov·i·dence ˈprä-və-dəns
1
often capitalized : help or care from God or heaven
2
capitalized : God as the guide and protector of all human beings
3
: prudence, thrift
Geographical Definition
Providence
geographical name
Prov·i·dence ˈprä-və-dən(t)s
-ˌden(t)s
city in northern Rhode Island that is the state capital and a port at the head of the Providence River (a northern arm of Narragansett Bay) population 178,042
providence
noun
1
as in saving
careful management of material resources practicing its customary providence, the snowbound family was able to make the meager stores last until help arrived Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- saving
- economy
- thrift
- frugality
- prudence
- scrimping
- skimping
- husbandry
- parsimony
- temperance
- niggardliness
- stinginess
- conservation
- penny-pinching
- miserliness
- moderation
- restraint
- discretion
- forehandedness
- belt-tightening
- retrenchment
- austerity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wastefulness
- improvidence
- extravagance
- prodigality
- lavishness
- squandering
- diseconomy
2
as in vision
concern or preparation for the future had the providence to lay in supplies before the storm hit Synonyms & Similar Words
- vision
- forethought
- prescience
- prudence
- foresight
- farsightedness
- foresightedness
- insight
- sagacity
- wisdom
- discernment
- precaution
- premeditation
- perception
- discretion
- sapience
- sagaciousness
- perceptiveness
- sageness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- improvidence
- myopia
- shortsightedness
- hindsight
3
as in God
capitalized the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe she trusted in Providence to see her through the crisis Synonyms & Similar Words
- God
- Lord
- deity
- Almighty
- Father
- Jahveh
- Yahveh
- Divinity
- Creator
- Godhead
- King
- Jehovah
- Everlasting
- Allah
- Yahweh
- Eternal
- Maker
- Author
- Supreme Being