lend

verb \ ˈlend \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Usage guide: loan vs. lend

Examples: lend in a Sentence

Definition of lend

lent play \ˈlent\; lending

transitive verb

1 a (1) : to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned

lend me your pen

(2) : to put at another's temporary disposal

lent us their services

b : to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest

The bank lent him the money for home improvements.

2 a : to give the assistance or support of : afford, furnish

a dispassionate and scholarly manner which lends great force to his criticisms
—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

b : to adapt or apply (oneself) readily : accommodate

a topic that lends itself admirably to class discussion

intransitive verb

: to make a loan

—

lendable

play \ˈlen-də-bəl\ adjective

—

lender

noun

See lend defined for English-language learners

See lend defined for kids

loan vs. lend

The verb loan is one of the words English settlers brought to America and continued to use after it had died out in Britain. Its use was soon noticed by British visitors and somewhat later by the New England literati, who considered it a bit provincial. It was flatly declared wrong in 1870 by a popular commentator, who based his objection on etymology. A later scholar showed that the commentator was ignorant of Old English and thus unsound in his objection, but by then it was too late, as the condemnation had been picked up by many other commentators. Although a surprising number of critics still voice objections, loan is entirely standard as a verb. You should note that it is used only literally; lend is the verb used for figurative expressions, such as "lending a hand" or "lending enchantment."

Examples of lend in a Sentence

I lent our ladder to the neighbors.
The bank wouldn't lend us the money.
Many banks won't lend to people with bad credit.
They are glad to lend their support to worthy causes.

Recent Examples of lend from the Web

Always quick with a joke and eager to lend a hand, he will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Eugene Francis Patno," 10 June 2018
Reports from at least five adjacent townships have poured in for nearly a month, a volume that this month attracted the attention of federal investigators now lending a hand to the state police detectives assigned to the case.

— vinny vella, Philly.com, "Upper Bucks residents desperate for answers as feds probe mysterious late-night explosions," 25 May 2018
But just as beekeepers rent out their hives to farmers to kickstart pollination, so too might robots like BrambleBee travel between farms to lend a hand, or labor full-time in greenhouses.

— matt simon, WIRED, "This Robotic Pollinator Is Like a Huge Bee With Wheels and an Arm," 23 May 2018
This season, Smith will focus on her core events for Withrow but could lend a hand (or legs) in a relay if needed.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "J'Alyiea Smith takes her talents from Withrow to Arkansas," 26 Apr. 2018
Local residents are hopeful that the start of the hiking season will mean hikers on the AT will lend a hand.

— kathryn miles, Outside Online, "The Forest Service Is Arresting Protestors Along the AT," 25 Apr. 2018
We are just called to love one another, help one another, lend a hand and shut the door to hate and all those kinds of things.

— deborah evans price, Billboard, "Jason Crabb on How Current Events Influenced His New Album 'Unexpected'," 20 Apr. 2018
Folks take the time to lend a helping hand when needed and do their best to be thoughtful and considerate.

— Southern Living, "What This Is Us Star Chrissy Metz Misses Most About The South," 11 Apr. 2018
Every single person in this company is supportive and always willing to lend a hand when needed.

— fortune editors, Fortune, "The Best Companies to Work for in Health Care and Biopharma," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lend

Middle English lenen, lenden, from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn loan — more at loan

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

lend Synonyms

Financial Definition of LEND

lender

noun

What It Is

A lender is a creditor or any entity to which you owe money for services provided.

How It Works

If you borrow money from XYZ Bank, XYZ Bank becomes your lender. Lenders are creditors, but not all creditors are lenders. For example, utility companies, health clubs, phone companies and credit card issuers can all be creditors if you have contracts with them or if they have performed services for which you have not yet paid.

Some lenders are more senior than others. For example, if Company XYZ issues bonds, the bondholders are essentially lenders who are senior to Company XYZ's shareholders. This means that should Company XYZ go bankrupt, the bondholders are entitled to repayment before the shareholders are.

In many cases, companies have several different types of debt, and some of these lenders may be subordinate to others. Some lenders may even be unsecured, meaning that the company has not pledged any collateral.

Why It Matters

Lenders may sue to obtain access to accounts or other assets if the borrower has not paid. Lenders may also place liens on the borrower's assets, meaning that the borrower cannot sell the assets without paying the lender first. In addition, lenders could report the problem to a credit bureau, which may place the item on the borrower's credit report.

Source: Investing Answers

LEND Defined for English Language Learners

lend

verb

Definition of lend for English Language Learners

: to give (something) to (someone) to be used for a period of time and then returned
: to give (money) to someone who agrees to pay it back in the future
: to make (something) available to (someone or something)

LEND Defined for Kids

lend

verb \ ˈlend \

Definition of lend for Students

lent \ˈlent\; lending

1 : ²loan

2 : to give usually for a time

Volunteers lent help to flood victims.

3 : to add something that improves or makes more attractive

Tomato lends color to a salad.

—

lender

noun

Law Dictionary

lend

verb

legal Definition of lend

lent; lending

transitive verb

1 : to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned

2 : to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest

intransitive verb

: to make a loan

—

lendable

adjective

—

lender

noun

Learn More about lend

See words that rhyme with lend Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lend Spanish Central: Translation of lend Nglish: Translation of lend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lend for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up lend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

lend

Definition of lend

lendable

lender

loan vs. lend

Examples of lend in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lend from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lend

lend Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Financial Definition of LEND

What It Is

How It Works

Why It Matters

Phrases Related to LEND

Related Phrases

LEND Defined for English Language Learners

lend

Definition of lend for English Language Learners

LEND Defined for Kids

lend

Definition of lend for Students

lender

Law Dictionary

lend

legal Definition of lend

lendable

lender

Learn More about lend

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word