Cool MateFeed vs Supply
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Feed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Supply
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Feed | Supply | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fiːd/","/fiːdz/","/fed/","/ˈfiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fiːd/","/fiːdz/","/fed/","/ˈfiːdɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/səˈplaɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səˈplaɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To give food to someone or something. | to give or provide something that is needed |
| Example | I need to feed the dog before I leave for work. | The company is struggling to meet the demand for their product due to a shortage in supply. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | properly, well, poorly, help (to), afford to, on, to, with, a mouth to feed, voraciously, mainly, mostly, on, properly, well, poorly, help (to), afford to, on, to, with, a mouth to feed, properly, well, poorly, help (to), afford to, on, to, with, a mouth to feed, directly, constantly, into, through, to, directly, constantly, into, through, to, directly, constantly, into, through, to | total, available, endless, have, get, lay in, increase, fall, exceed demand, chain, line, network, supply of, supply to, be in short supply, demand and supply, supply and demand, abundant, plentiful, limited, bring, bring in, lay in, hold out, last, be depleted, supply of |
| Antonyms | starve, deprive, neglect | demand, deprivation |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fed' as the past tense., Using 'to feed' with an object before the subject., Mistakenly using 'feed' as a noun when it should be a verb. | Confusing with 'supplement' when more than just providing is meant, Using as a noun instead of a verb, e.g., 'to supply' vs 'the supply', Incorrectly conjugating the verb in different tenses |
| Usage notes | Commonly used when talking about giving food to animals or children. Not usually used in formal contexts. Avoid using it in contexts where you mean 'nourish' in a more abstract sense. | Use 'supply' when referring to providing goods or resources. It is neutral and can be used in business, education, and everyday contexts. Avoid using it in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Feed vs Supply
What's the difference between Feed and Supply?
Feed: To give food to someone or something. Supply: to give or provide something that is needed
Which is more advanced: Feed and Supply?
Supply is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Feed and Supply the same CEFR level?
Feed: A2, Supply: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Feed and Supply?
Feed: verb, Supply: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Feed: I need to feed the dog before I leave for work. Supply: The company is struggling to meet the demand for their product due to a shortage in supply.
Can I use Feed and Supply interchangeably?
Not always. Feed and Supply are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.