lend

verb \ ˈlend \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

As a counterexample, the Pittsburgh winger motions across the locker room toward captain Sidney Crosby, whose rotating cast of linemates often lends itself to visual instruction.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "For NHL Teams and Players, iPads Have Become an Important Part of the Game," 17 Apr. 2018
During this 12-month period, the Mean Girls actress will lend more of her knowledge to the role by acting as Lawyer.com's marketing and brand advisor.

— dory jackson, Newsweek, "Lindsay Lohan Mocks Past Legal Troubles As Face of Lawyer.com," 21 Mar. 2018
The stretchy mesh upper lends a casual comfort to this moderately thick, quick, and firm trainer.

— justin nyberg, Outside Online, "The Best Fat Shoes of 2018," 21 Mar. 2018
The simultaneous appearance of four dress mannequins with detachable heads lends more food for thought.

— dave sturm, Columbia Flier, "At Laurel's Venus Theatre, a woman's wry perspective across four centuries," 16 Mar. 2018
The project was originally turned down because of zoning concerns before a pair of state senators lent their support for an exception for the church.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "He preached under one of the tallest crosses in the U.S. — until his arrest for meth | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 10 Mar. 2018
The cottage cheese in these pancakes adds protein and pizzazz, while the fresh blueberry compote lends sweetness without additives or empty calories.

— woman's day kitchen, Woman's Day, "Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Blueberry Compote," 5 Mar. 2018
For the evening that underwrites the development of the garden’s orchid research collection (known to maintain the highest horticultural standards of orchid conservation) top interior designers lent their table-setting talents.

— sarah bray, Town & Country, "How To Pull Off a Summery Tablescape in the Dead of Winter," 20 Feb. 2018
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer lent his backing to the agreement during a speech on the chamber’s floor.

— alan fram, The Seattle Times, "End to government shutdown in sight as Dems halt filibuster," 22 Jan. 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)