lend

verb

\ ˈlend

lent\ ˈlent

\; lending

Definition of lend

transitive verb

1a(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.

2a : 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

Other Words from lend Synonyms & Antonyms Loan vs. Lend: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about lend

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Synonyms & Antonyms for lend

Synonyms

advance, loan

Antonyms

borrow

Loan vs. Lend: Usage Guide

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 on the Web

But its existence lends credence to the very real paranoia about the plethora of microphone-equipped devices all around us—that big tech is eavesdropping on us to fuel advertising schemes. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Google Calls Hidden Microphone in Its Nest Home Security Devices an 'Error'," 21 Feb. 2019 The Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor Sinead O’Connor lent her voice for a mournful rendition of the traditional Irish ballad with The Chieftains. — Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, "20 Best Irish Songs to Help You Celebrate St. Patrick's Day," 13 Feb. 2019 Behind the scenes, Shell lent its weight to a carbon tax proposal too. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Climate and energy news in 2018 actually wasn’t all bad," 1 Jan. 2019 Organic shapes and neutral colors lend everything a warm, personal touch, while matte-gold flatware adds an appropriate dose of festivity. — ELLE Decor, "This Holiday Party Is Anything But Traditional—And We're Obsessed," 30 Nov. 2018 Most of these famous artists lent their talent to the NBC show in the form of advice to the hopeful contestants, so there have been few celebrity performances so far. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "Kane Brown Will Perform His Hit Song 'Lose It' on 'The Voice' This Week," 12 Nov. 2018 If these clothes, bags, and shoes aren't enough Hello Kitty merch for you (understandable), the famous feline has lent her likeness to many other collabs in the past few months. — Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, "This Converse x Hello Kitty Line Is Everything," 10 Aug. 2018 Hello Kitty has lent her ears to many a beauty collaboration in the past, including DHC lip and lash products, a full collection for ColourPop, and a bright pastel range of nail polishes for OPI. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "Proactiv Partners With Hello Kitty for the Purrfect Skin-Care Collaboration," 24 July 2018 Hillary Clinton, then the U.S. Secretary of State, lent the support of the American government, promising money and the resources of a handful of agencies. — Sara Morrison, USA TODAY, "In developing world, an expensive push to reduce cooking fire deaths falls short," 13 July 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.

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More Definitions for lend

lender

noun

Financial Definition of lender

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

verb