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
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
Maybe a brow gel that goes from borrowed to bought.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
In 2025, 966,920 books and other items were borrowed, 109,260 questions answered by reference librarians and 57,782 people attended library programs, library officials said.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Giffords wore a recycled Vera Wang gown borrowed from a family friend, a choice that reflected her commitment to environmental sustainability.
—Ilana Frost, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Wheelchair-accessible ramps and pathways are located throughout the resort, and beach wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Coronado lifeguard station.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
But hemagglutinin isn't just protein; the protein becomes partly covered in sugar molecules borrowed from the host cell (known as glycosylation), which act as a type of camouflage for the virus.
—New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
Women wrote all of the top 10 books people borrowed this year through the public library app Libby.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
The film unfolds across intimate Brooklyn spaces — apartments that feel borrowed, late-night conversations that blur into morning, chance encounters that reopen old wounds — as Roger navigates his lingering bond with his ex (Nicole Beharie) and a tentative new connection (DeWanda Wise).
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
Topology, which is a concept borrowed from mathematics, describes properties that remain unchanged despite distortions.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
Maybe a brow gel that goes from borrowed to bought.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
In 2025, 966,920 books and other items were borrowed, 109,260 questions answered by reference librarians and 57,782 people attended library programs, library officials said.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Giffords wore a recycled Vera Wang gown borrowed from a family friend, a choice that reflected her commitment to environmental sustainability.
—Ilana Frost, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Wheelchair-accessible ramps and pathways are located throughout the resort, and beach wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Coronado lifeguard station.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
But hemagglutinin isn't just protein; the protein becomes partly covered in sugar molecules borrowed from the host cell (known as glycosylation), which act as a type of camouflage for the virus.
—New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
Women wrote all of the top 10 books people borrowed this year through the public library app Libby.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
The film unfolds across intimate Brooklyn spaces — apartments that feel borrowed, late-night conversations that blur into morning, chance encounters that reopen old wounds — as Roger navigates his lingering bond with his ex (Nicole Beharie) and a tentative new connection (DeWanda Wise).
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrowed
Adjective
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Arriving in Recife during carnival, Armando takes a job at the city’s social registration archive while hiding out under the assumed name of Marcelo.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
25 Nov. 2025
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Aerial Global Community applied with the Tennessee Secretary of State on March 31, 2022, to register Aerial Recovery as an assumed name.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Now, for about five years, she's adopted the method for herself.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Many use-of-force policies adopted by police departments endorse that principle.—
Ben Jones,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Those qualities align with the ever-growing vintage denim market, and denim mills’ and brands’ quest to recreate worn effects.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Jan. 2026
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For his battle-worn, brooding rendition of the heroic outlaw in the A24 film, the Les Misérables actor shows off a long gray beard paired with silver locks—a far cry from other Robin Hoods portrayed by actors like Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Russell Crowe.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Super Bowl ad is the latest move by a president and administration that have fully embraced professional sports as a prime venue to deliver their message.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Gonzalez also embraced the trend, wearing a sheer black corset top of her own.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borrowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrowed. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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