as in assumed
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as in adopted
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
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Recent Examples of borrowed
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The aesthetic and credibility of nonfiction media are borrowed to deliver messages that are fundamentally promotional.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Webster Bank was founded in 1935 by Harold Webster Smith as First Federal Savings of Waterbury with $25,000 borrowed from friends and family.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Investors had borrowed heavily capitalize on the run-up in gold over the last year.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
In Mendonça’s work, political commentary coincides with art-house aesthetics and elements borrowed from genre movies—science fiction, Western, neo-noir.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
While on the runway the dress was blue and black with a trompe-l’œil design, Robbie’s look leaned into more Victorian-era flourishes, with a laced strapless bodice and an onyx and scarlet red gradient petal skirt, striking colors which borrowed from other styles in the show.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
In Naples, Lobotka became a regista, the Italian term for a ‘six’ borrowed from cinema.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
For the past few years, SINAKA—aka Quilpué rapper and singer Matías Muñoz—has borrowed from the sound of 2000s and early-2010s perreo, crafting an infectious, memorable take on the sound that moves forward while looking back.
—Tomás Gauna, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Indeed, cloud-computing giant Oracle borrowed $25 billion in order to provide compute for OpenAI, with analysts warning that its huge debt was weighing on its stock.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The aesthetic and credibility of nonfiction media are borrowed to deliver messages that are fundamentally promotional.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Webster Bank was founded in 1935 by Harold Webster Smith as First Federal Savings of Waterbury with $25,000 borrowed from friends and family.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Investors had borrowed heavily capitalize on the run-up in gold over the last year.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
In Mendonça’s work, political commentary coincides with art-house aesthetics and elements borrowed from genre movies—science fiction, Western, neo-noir.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
While on the runway the dress was blue and black with a trompe-l’œil design, Robbie’s look leaned into more Victorian-era flourishes, with a laced strapless bodice and an onyx and scarlet red gradient petal skirt, striking colors which borrowed from other styles in the show.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
In Naples, Lobotka became a regista, the Italian term for a ‘six’ borrowed from cinema.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
For the past few years, SINAKA—aka Quilpué rapper and singer Matías Muñoz—has borrowed from the sound of 2000s and early-2010s perreo, crafting an infectious, memorable take on the sound that moves forward while looking back.
—Tomás Gauna, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrowed
Adjective
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Stuart Skinner was elevated to the starter’s job when the assumed top goalie (Jack Campbell) faltered during the 2022-23 season.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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But the revenues never reached the assumed level and his Department of Finance eventually — and very quietly — acknowledged that the administration had overstated income by a whopping $165 billion over four years.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ferlinghetti, who had not yet adopted his immigrant father’s original name, was an aspiring painter, poet, and freelance art critic.—
Gioia Woods,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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Allen, who married Previn in 1997 and has since adopted two daughters, has denied any wrongdoing.—
Hillel Italie,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Giving a worn accessory new life brings a sense of satisfaction while keeping it out of the landfill.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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One Connecticut store owner offers new wedding dresses, but also gently worn wedding dresses, mother of the bride dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and many other items a couple might need for the nuptial day, said Lisa Antonecchia.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rodríguez herself hasn't embraced meaningful public debate of the nation's problems other than announcing the creation of an advisory commission on political co-existence to be headed by Villegas' brother, Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas.—
EGINA GARCIA CANO,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borrowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrowed. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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