diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 17fd63c5c5..9b4b5cd35b 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -2805,6 +2805,23 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
             </glossdef>
         </glossentry>
 
+        <glossentry id='var-PROVIDES'><glossterm>PROVIDES</glossterm>
+            <glossdef>
+                <para>
+                    A list of aliases that a recipe also provides. 
+                    These aliases are useful for satisfying dependencies of 
+                    other recipes during the build (as specified by 
+                    <filename><link linkend='var-DEPENDS'>DEPENDS</link></filename>).
+                    <note>
+                        A recipe's own 
+                        <filename><link linkend='var-PN'>PN</link></filename>
+                        is implicitly already in its 
+                        <filename>PROVIDES</filename> list. 
+                    </note>
+                </para>
+            </glossdef>
+        </glossentry>
+
         <glossentry id='var-PV'><glossterm>PV</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>The version of the recipe.