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 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

The German bank is one of the few banks that still lends money to Trump after his multiple bankruptcies and financial woes. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Maxine Waters could be a serious problem for Trump if Democrats win the House," 5 July 2018 Banks use customer deposits as a source of cheap funding, lending the money at higher rates to homebuilders and mortgage borrowers and other loan customers, or investing in securities or fee-generating services. — Joseph N. Distefano, Philly.com, "Bank deposit rates going up," 25 June 2018 But instead of lending the money directly, the source said, the funds were funneled to the Whites through a third party to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. — Mike Hendricks, kansascity, "Missouri attorney general investigating Frank White's personal financial dealings," 15 June 2018 That is a penalty aimed at pushing banks to lend the money instead of leaving it at the central bank. — David Mchugh, USA TODAY, "European Central Bank holds on interest rate hike, sets end date for stimulus program," 14 June 2018 Her buddy on the canvass trail is Wanda Mosley, 48, a campaign veteran who has lent her time and money to everyone from President Barack Obama to local candidates. — Essence.com, "Can She Turn A Red State Blue? Stacey Abrams Intends To In Georgia," 26 Apr. 2018 Bank of America plans to quit lending money to manufacturers of military-style guns sold for civilian use, a top executive said this week. — Deon Roberts, charlotteobserver, "Bank of America discloses new action against gunmakers | Charlotte Observer," 11 Apr. 2018 Roddy said dozens of schools have hauled out gear, many wanting attorney lecterns, court seals and other items to lend a realistic touch to their student moot courts. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Old downtown courthouse being stripped before demolition," 7 July 2018 The new findings lend support to the idea that programs to reduce obesity in children need to look beyond the children themselves. — Melissa Healy, latimes.com, "To reduce your risk of obesity, it helps to have a mom who follows five healthy habits," 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.

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Dictionary Entries near lend

Phrases Related to lend

give/lend me a hand with

give/lend one's name to

lend a hand

lend itself to

lend one's name

lend weight/credence/credibility

Statistics for lend

Last Updated

18 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for lend

The first known use of lend was before the 12th century

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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