as in to adopt
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
borrowed the basic plot from a book of tales, but put her personal stamp on the story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of borrow
But those numbers were drawn in part from the pandemic era when the government borrowed heavily to stabilize the economy.
—
ABC News, 1 June 2026
Many families will have no choice but to keep borrowing, Kantrowitz said.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 31 May 2026
The actress' 16-year-old daughter borrowed an Elie Saab Couture gown right out of mom's fashion archives — last seen on the 2014 Oscars red carpet — to wear to a 2021 premiere of The Eternals, in which Jolie starred.
—Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Residents can also borrow litter kits from the Sunnyvale Public Library.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrow
ABC News, 1 June 2026
Many families will have no choice but to keep borrowing, Kantrowitz said.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 31 May 2026
The actress' 16-year-old daughter borrowed an Elie Saab Couture gown right out of mom's fashion archives — last seen on the 2014 Oscars red carpet — to wear to a 2021 premiere of The Eternals, in which Jolie starred.
—Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Residents can also borrow litter kits from the Sunnyvale Public Library.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrow
Verb
-
Rick and Mary Kay adopted them.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Since the electron’s motional states are quantized, the resonator adopts one or two states during the experimental procedure, which is the potential building block of a qubit.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Beckham continued to express gratitude for the reunion while also embracing an underdog mentality.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
-
Instead, Collins embraced yet another current summer trend—the barefoot shoe—in a pair of Margaux’s soft, glove-like Phoebe Flats in bone white Nappa leather.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrow. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
