borrow

verb

bor·​row ˈbär-(ˌ)ō 

ˈbȯr-

borrowed; borrowing; borrows

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive with the implied or expressed intention of returning the same or an equivalent

borrow a book from the library

borrowed a dollar

borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor

b

finance : to borrow (money) with the intention of returning the same plus interest (see interest entry 1 sense 3a)

borrow money from the bank

2

a

: to appropriate for one's own use

borrow a metaphor from Shakespeare

b

: derive, adopt

traditions borrowed from African polytheism

3

mathematics : to take (one) from a digit of the minuend in arithmetical subtraction in order to add as 10 to the digit holding the next lower place

4

: to adopt into one language from another

The English word "entrepreneur" was borrowed from French.

5

dialect : lend

Borrow me your pencil.

intransitive verb

: to borrow something

borrows heavily from Nietzsche

borrower

ˈbär-ə-wər 

ˈbȯr-

noun

see also:

borrow trouble

Synonyms of borrow

• adopt
• embrace

Examples of borrow in a Sentence

The twins often borrow each other's clothes.

I'm borrowing a friend's car for the weekend.

He borrowed the book from the library.

Will you see if we can borrow a cup of sugar from the neighbors?

She borrowed $20 from me.

The speech was peppered with phrases borrowed from Winston Churchill.

She borrowed the technique from local artisans.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year’s installment was five months late, Johnson said, and the district considered borrowing to make do. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

But that was our supposition, not hers, even if borrowing the single’s title for the whole project did seem to make a promise the full record isn’t prepared to deliver on. — Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Economic uncertainty and other factors have kept borrowing costs elevated for much of the year, according to real estate experts. — Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Every detail is borrowed from the banks AmaMagdalena carries 60 guests in 30 staterooms. — Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English borwen, from Old English borgian; akin to Old English beorgan to preserve — more at bury

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing borrow

• beg, borrow, or/and steal
• borrow a page from
• borrow pit
• borrow/take a page from someone
• borrow/take a page from someone's book
• borrow trouble
• take/borrow a leaf out of someone's book

Rhymes for borrow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

borrow

verb

bor·​row ˈbär-ō 

ˈbȯr-

1

: to take or receive something with the promise or intention of returning it

2

: to take for one's own use something begun or thought up by another : adopt

borrow an idea

3

: to take 1 from the digit in a minuend and add it as 10 to the digit in the next lower place

borrower

ˈbär-ə-wər 

ˈbȯr-

noun

Legal Definition

borrow

transitive verb

bor·​row

: to take or receive temporarily

specifically : to receive (money) with the intention of returning the same plus interest

borrower noun

Biographical Definition

Borrow

biographical name

Bor·​row ˈbär-(ˌ)ō 

George Henry 1803–1881 English author