Synonyms of borrow

borrow

verb

ˈbär-(ˌ)ō 

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

• adopt
• embrace
• take up
• cultivate
• use
• assimilate
• take on
• utilize
• follow
• copy
• imitate
• incorporate
• pick up on
• espouse
• absorb
• quote
• usurp
• appropriate
• treasure
• honor
• cherish
• raise
• heed
• take over
• domesticate
• prize
• pretend
• assume
• affect
• naturalize
• arrogate
• simulate
• foster
• nurture
• put on
• bring up
• rear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandon
• relinquish
• forsake
• give up
• surrender
• reject
• disown
• renounce
• repudiate
• abjure
• spurn
• discard
• throw away
• jettison
• throw out
• abnegate
• junk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of borrow

Pot-filler water stations, borrowed from the kitchen concept, mount a faucet directly over the dog bowl so nobody has to carry a sloshing dish. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Rather than simply placing a famous painting on a jersey, Adidas borrowed Magritte’s visual language—and his sense of playful contradiction—to create a uniform that rewards a second looking. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026

As rising interest rates crowd out private spending, consumers looking to borrow to buy a house or car, or to use credit cards, would pay higher rates, Fichtner said. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 8 July 2026

Take in its beauty at a leisurely pace atop a paddleboard or in a kayak borrowed from Aloha Paddle Lake Norman, which offers rentals and beginner-friendly lessons. — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026