lends; lent
ˈlɛnt 
; lending
; lending
1
a
: to give (something) to (someone) to be used for a period of time and then returned
She often lends us books. = She often lends books to us.
Could you lend me your pen? [=could I borrow your pen?]
I lent our ladder to the neighbors.
b
: to give (money) to someone who agrees to pay it back in the future
Can you lend me 50 cents? [=can I borrow 50 cents from you?]
The bank wouldn't lend us the money.
Many banks won't lend to people with bad credit.
2
: to make (something) available to (someone or something)
They offered to lend us their services. [=to provide us with their services]
They are glad to lend their support to worthy causes.
It's surprising that he would lend his name to such a venture. [=that he would allow his name to be associated with such a venture]
3
a
: to add (something that is needed or wanted) to (something)
A bit of grated carrot lends some color to the dish. = A bit of grated carrot lends the dish some color.
A growing amount of evidence lends weight/credence/credibility to their theory. [=makes their theory seem true or correct]
b
: to provide (something that is needed or wanted)
She's always there to lend a (helping) hand. [=she's always there to help]
Cite this Entry
“Lend.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/lend. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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