provide feed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide feed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of supplying food or nourishment, typically in the context of animals or agriculture. Example: "Farmers need to provide feed for their livestock to ensure they remain healthy and productive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

tutorials about how to grow forages and how to provide feed for their animals.

Cornell University

Recently, Chinese companies have been buying farms in the United States and Australia to provide feed for the country's dairy and beef industries.

The Guardian

The oils could provide feed for farmed fish, the researchers hope, but they could ultimately be used as a health supplement in human foods such as margarine.

The Guardian

Potentially the species examined can provide feed for goats as well as for other small ruminants during long dry periods when other feed is unavailable.

Small Ruminant Research

Bees — along with birds, bats and butterflies — play a key function by pollinating commercial fruit and vegetable crops; alfalfa and clover that provide feed for cattle; and the nuts, seeds and fruits that sustain massive grizzly bears and delicate songbirds.

The Washington Post

Moreover, as people grow more prosperous they eat more meat, which will require even more crops to provide feed for livestock.China's demand for fertiliser is expected to be particularly buoyant as a result of its huge population and the poor quality of its arable land.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We'll provide feeds for citizen journalists who livestream events as they are taking place, instead of the 10-second sound bites provided by the corporate media," the page reads.

Huffington Post

As a result, land once used to provide grains for humans now provides feed for hogs and poultry.

Stanford University

As the weather warms up, the fodder crops of lucerne, clover and brassica continue to grow thick and lush, providing feed for milk-making mums and hungry maturing lambs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

BBC News provides feeds for both the desktop website as well as for our mobile site and the most popular feeds are listed here.

BBC

The host broadcaster, OBS, who was appointed by the IOC and London's Olympic Committee, LOCOG, provides feeds for all rights holders.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about agricultural practices, use “provide feed for” to clearly indicate the act of supplying nourishment to animals, emphasizing the responsibility and action taken by the farmer or caretaker.

Common error

Avoid using "provide feed for" in contexts where "feed" is not literally food or nourishment. For example, it's incorrect to say "provide feed for thought"; instead, use "provide food for thought" or "stimulate thought".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide feed for" functions as a verb phrase, where "provide" is the main verb and "feed" acts as the object. It describes the action of supplying nourishment, often in the context of animals. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provide feed for" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, commonly employed to describe the act of supplying food or nourishment, particularly to animals, as Ludwig AI confirms. While it finds its primary contexts in scientific, academic, and news-related discussions, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communication scenarios. For alternatives, consider options like "supply sustenance to" or "offer nourishment to". It is crucial to reserve this term for contexts involving literal feeding, avoiding metaphorical extensions where other phrases might be more fitting. Remember, this expression effectively conveys the essential task of ensuring creatures receive adequate sustenance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer nourishment to

Uses "nourishment" instead of "feed", highlighting the provision of essential nutrients; suitable for broader contexts.

supply sustenance to

Replaces "feed" with "sustenance", emphasizing nutritional support; slightly more formal.

dispense feed

Uses "dispense" instead of "provide", implying a measured or regulated distribution of food.

provision with fodder

Replaces "feed" with "fodder", specifying roughage for livestock; agriculturally focused.

give food to

Simplifies the phrase with more basic vocabulary; less formal.

nourish through feeding

This option repeats the concept of nourishment but also specifies that it's obtained by feeding. Also has some redundancy due to the repetition.

cater food for

Suggests a more curated or organized food supply; suitable for specific events or dietary needs.

nourish

Short, punchy way to convey the same meaning. It omits the prepositional phrase.

sustain with victuals

Uses "victuals", a slightly old-fashioned term for food or provisions.

furnish provender for

Employs "provender", a more archaic term for animal feed; highly formal and specific.

FAQs

What does "provide feed for" mean?

The phrase "provide feed for" means to supply food or nourishment to someone or something, usually animals or livestock. It emphasizes the action of giving them what they need to eat.

What are some alternatives to "provide feed for"?

Alternatives include "supply sustenance to", "offer nourishment to", or "give food to", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "provide feed for" when talking about humans?

While technically correct, "provide feed for" is more commonly used in the context of animals or livestock. For humans, it's more common to say "provide food for" or "offer nourishment to".

Can I use "provide feed for" metaphorically?

While possible, using "provide feed for" metaphorically can sound unusual. It's generally better to use other expressions like "provide fuel for" or "offer stimulus for", depending on what you are trying to convey.