borrowing

noun

bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce borrowing (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Powell warned of mounting risks to employment, another indication that the central bank is likely to continue easing borrowing costs, bolstering bets on a rate cut later this month. Benzinga, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025 The bottom line is that when the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, borrowing costs generally will come down; however, the offset is that the rate of return for checking and savings accounts will fall. Kevin Cerveny, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025 While the Federal funds rate doesn’t set the mortgage rates lenders offer, lower borrowing costs should (as a general rule) ultimately result in more affordable mortgages for consumers. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025 The incident put the bank’s borrowing practices under more scrutiny amid rising fears that lending practices on Wall Street have grown too lax. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for borrowing

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of borrowing was in 1609

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Borrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrowing. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

borrowing

noun
bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce borrowing (audio)
ˈbȯr-
: something borrowed
especially : a word or phrase adopted from one language into another
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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