lend

verb \ ˈlend \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 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

Illenium lends the dreamy horizons of his latest sounds, while Excision certainly bumps the drums as hard as the mood will allow.

— kat bein, Billboard, "Excision & Illenium Tease 'Gold (Stupid Love)' Collaboration: Hear the Sneak Peek," 13 July 2018
The analysis of Ötzi’s final meal lends important insight into eating and food preparation habits during the Copper Age.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Before He Died, Ötzi the Iceman Ate a Greasy, Fatty Meal," 13 July 2018
At the time, Arpaio was lending his name to a GOP activist in California who was running for Congress.

— yvonne wingett sanchez, azcentral, "Joe Arpaio says he was punked by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in 'fake' interview," 12 July 2018
The Magic will lend Mohamed Bamba similar levels of patience.

— jeremy woo, SI.com, "The Summer League Leap: Second-Year Players Making an Impact in Las Vegas," 9 July 2018
Plenty of room lends freely to private conversation, even on the busiest Saturday nights.

— joan cary, Aurora Beacon-News, "Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs: Basil’s Greek Dining in Aurora," 8 July 2018
On offense, Jawon Pass can lend the defense a big hand.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "How Louisville football can (and can’t) beat Georgia Tech," 7 July 2018
Zaytoven lent masterfully symphonic production to tracks on which Future plumbed the depths of his emotional decay.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "The Cathartic Symphony of Future’s Beast Mode 2," 6 July 2018
Two new studies lend scientific credence to my experience.

— brad stulberg, Outside Online, "Lifting Weights Helps Ease Anxiety and Depression," 5 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.

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)