Provided is a word you use to introduce a condition: something that must be true before something else can happen.

If you say, “You can play video games, provided you finish your homework,” you’re setting a rule: homework first, games second. You’ll also see it in the longer form provided that, which means “on the condition that” or “as long as,” and it often shows up in instructions, agreements, and fine print: “Refunds are available, provided the item is returned within 30 days.” In this sense, provided means “this is allowed only if these conditions are met.”

Provided is also the past tense of provide. If you ask your teacher for a pencil, they might say, “I already provided you with a pencil at the beginning of class. Did you lose it already?”