overborrow

verb

over·​bor·​row ˌō-vər-ˈbär-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce overborrow (audio)
-ˈbȯr-
overborrowed; overborrowing

intransitive verb

: to borrow too much : to go too deeply into debt
Don't overborrow against your home. Keep mortgage debt below 80 percent of your remodeled home's new appraised value, so you won't be required to take out private mortgage insurance on the new loan—or end up eating macaroni and cheese for the next 10 years.Elizabeth Brewster
Some students get into trouble because they overborrow. Although the loans are intended to cover education expenses, students can apply for more than they would need for tuition, books and fees.Tim Sheehan
The bank itself had inadequate capital. And it permitted its directors and their partners to overborrow.Susan Lee

Examples of overborrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many experts have also been saying that the handout will incentivize colleges to raise tuition prices and cause students to overborrow. Jessica Chasmar, Fox News, 25 Aug. 2022 These numbers contradict the view that low-income countries tend to overborrow. Ramya Vijaya, Quartz, 17 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overborrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overborrow was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near overborrow

Cite this Entry

“Overborrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overborrow. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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