borrow

verb

bor·​row ˈbär-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce borrow (audio)
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 noun
Phrases
borrow trouble
: to do something unnecessarily that may result in adverse reaction or repercussions

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 Through some combination of reverence and laziness, American soccer has borrowed many of its chants from the British. Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024 Trump’s stake in Truth Social’s parent company values over $3 billion but a prior agreement bars Trump from selling any of his shares or borrowing cash against them for six months. USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Frozen Empire is jam-packed with characters old, new, borrowed and, in Melody’s case, literally blue. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 Many homeowners might be tempted to tap into their equity and borrow against their homes, maybe to do a bathroom remodel, but the interest rates could be a turnoff. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024 Jones offered amendments to his resolution, including removing the request to hire a housing coordinator, specifying criteria for the task force members and adding a section supporting the city's current efforts that borrowed largely from the second resolution. Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2024 Policymakers also released a fresh set of quarterly economic estimates for the first time since December, and those projected that borrowing costs will end 2024 at 4.6 percent. Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Readers across the globe borrowed 662 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines last year, up 19% since 2022, according to data provided by OverDrive, the main distributor of digital content for libraries and schools. Susan Haigh, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Now, Bleach Lab has released their newest album Lost In A Rush of Emptiness, a title aptly borrowed from a line in Leonard Cohen’s posthumous collection The Flame. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2024

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of borrow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near borrow

Cite this Entry

“Borrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

borrow

verb
bor·​row ˈbär-ō How to pronounce borrow (audio)
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 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 How to pronounce Borrow (audio)
George Henry 1803–1881 English author

More from Merriam-Webster on borrow

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