borrowing

noun

bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ 

ˈbȯr-

: something borrowed

especially : a word or phrase adopted from one language into another

Examples of borrowing in a Sentence

He's compiling a list of Japanese borrowings in English.

Students must have their own pencils. Borrowing is not allowed.

Economists predict that there will be increases in government borrowing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Overdraft alternatives reduce the conditions that push people toward higher-cost borrowing. — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

South Korea's central bank warned in a report released last month that leveraged stock investment by retail investors had climbed to a record high, driven primarily by margin borrowing and increasingly concentrated semiconductor positions. — Lee Ying Shan,blair Baek, CNBC, 20 July 2026

The federal government has been running on a hamster wheel of debt by refinancing trillions of dollars every month with trillions more in fresh borrowing that comes due in a few months. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Sluggish growth, high public debt, and elevated government borrowing costs are among his challenges. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for borrowing

• sorrowing

Kids Definition

borrowing

noun

bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ 

ˈbȯr-

: something borrowed

especially : a word or phrase adopted from one language into another