resource

resource — noun

1. something such as money, raw materials, workers, or land that is available to a

1.nounB1
Definition

something such as money, raw materials, workers, or land that is available to a country, company, or person to help them operate or achieve their goals.

Example

The country depends on its natural resources, such as oil and minerals, for economic growth.

collocation: natural resources

The charity lacks the financial resources to help all the families in need.

Common collocations
  • natural resources
  • financial resources
  • human resources
  • limited resources
  • allocate resources
  • available resources
  • valuable resource
  • personal resources
Synonyms
  • supply

    focuses on the quantity available rather than the value or usefulness

  • asset

    emphasises economic value; an asset is a resource that can be sold or traded

  • means

    more abstract; refers to the method or ability rather than the tangible item

Antonyms
  • shortage

    a situation where resources are insufficient

  • lack

    the absence of needed resources

Grammar Patterns

resource + of

natural/financial/human + resources

Usage Note

Often appears in the plural form 'resources' even when referring to a single type of asset (e.g. 'financial resources'). The singular form is less common and typically refers to a specific supply (e.g. 'a valuable resource').

Common Mistakes

The country has many resource.
The country has many resources.
When referring to supplies or assets, the plural 'resources' is far more common.
We need to find more resource for the project.
We need to find more resources for the project.
Use the plural form to refer to multiple types of supply.

2. a book, website, piece of equipment, person, or service that provides useful inf

2.nounB1
Definition

a book, website, piece of equipment, person, or service that provides useful information or practical help for achieving a particular aim.

Example

The library is an excellent resource for students writing their research papers.

pattern: resource for [purpose]

Lakshmi found several online resources that explained the history of the region.

Common collocations
  • useful resource
  • valuable resource
  • online resource
  • resource pack
  • resource for learning
  • educational resource
  • teaching resource
Synonyms
  • reference

    limited to sources of information; narrower than 'resource'

  • tool

    emphasises practical usefulness; a tool helps you do something

  • aid

    implies help towards achieving something; often used in education

Grammar Patterns

resource + for + noun/gerund

useful/valuable + resource

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is always countable and refers to a specific item or person that helps with a task. When referring to people, it is a metaphor — treat people respectfully, not as objects ('a valuable resource' is acceptable in business, but avoid in personal contexts).

Common Mistakes

The internet is resource for information.
The internet is a resource for information.
This sense is countable so requires an article: 'a resource' or 'resources'.

3. the ability to think quickly and find ways to deal with difficult or unexpected

3.nounC1
Definition

the ability to think quickly and find ways to deal with difficult or unexpected situations, using whatever is available.

Example

Élise showed great resource in handling the sudden power failure during the conference.

formal register: resource = resourcefulness

The young manager's resource in solving the budget crisis impressed the board.

Common collocations
  • show resource
  • demonstrate resource
  • great resource
Synonyms
  • resourcefulness

    more common in everyday English; same meaning but not marked as formal

  • ingenuity

    emphasises cleverness and original thinking

  • initiative

    focuses on the willingness to act without being told

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

show + resource

resource + in + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is marked as formal and is less common in everyday conversation. In casual speech, speakers prefer 'resourcefulness' or 'being resourceful'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is always uncountable and describes a personal quality, not a tangible supply.

Common Mistakes

She has many resources for dealing with problems.' (when meaning personal ability)
She shows great resource in dealing with problems.
The personal-quality sense is uncountable and used with 'show' or 'demonstrate', not 'have many'.
His resource of money helped him.' (confusing with sense 1)
His resource helped him solve the problem creatively.
Sense 2 is about cleverness, not money.

resource — verb

Word family

  • resources
    plural nounB1
  • resourceful
    adjectiveB2
  • resourcefully
    adverbC1
  • resourcefulness
    nounC1
  • resourced
    adjectiveC1
  • under-resourced
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words refer to things that are available for use, but they differ in emphasis. 'Resource' is the broadest — it covers money, materials, people, and natural assets that help an organisation or country operate. 'Supply' focuses on the quantity available ('a supply of food') rather than the value. 'Asset' is narrower: it means something valuable that can be sold or used to generate income, such as property or investments. 'Reserve' implies something kept aside for future or emergency use ('oil reserves', 'cash reserves'). 'Stock' refers to goods kept for sale or use in a business ('warehouse stock'). In everyday use, 'resource' is the most versatile and common for talking about what a country, company, or person has to work with. Example: 'The region has rich natural resources' (not 'natural supplies' or 'natural assets').

supply ↗asset ↗resource ↗reserve ↗stock ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • resource allocation
  • resource management
  • resource planning

Prepositions

  • resource for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'resurgere' meaning 'to rise again'. The word entered English through French 'ressource' in the 1600s, originally carrying the idea of something you can 'rise again' from — a source of help in difficulty. The modern sense of a usable supply (oil, money, people) developed in the 1700s, and the verb form meaning 'to provide with resources' appeared in the mid-1900s.