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.
All of the backup plans that people are preparing to enact - borrowing, trying to visit food banks, putting off other bills - have their own costs and downstream effects. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 The Fed’s key interest rate, which influences borrowing costs more broadly, functions through demand, not supply. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025 The $38 trillion figure refers to gross national debt—the cumulative total of all federal borrowing, including debt held by government accounts and the public. Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025 Experts caution that if the Fed is expected to cut borrowing costs, mortgage rates often dip slightly right before the Fed’s announcement, only to rise again after the benchmark rate is cut. Christine Romans, NBC news, 23 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 29 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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