as in adopting
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 borrowing
Two paramedics who happened to be on the flight assisted, borrowing blankets from other passengers and using a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord.
—
ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.
—Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
And that's especially true for those considering borrowing their $40,000 with a home equity loan.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
It would be paid by borrowing construction costs against future toll revenue — both from existing GMX expressways and revenue from the new 14-mile extension, too.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrowing
ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.
—Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
And that's especially true for those considering borrowing their $40,000 with a home equity loan.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
It would be paid by borrowing construction costs against future toll revenue — both from existing GMX expressways and revenue from the new 14-mile extension, too.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrowing
Verb
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Bubbles Didn’t Enter The Picture That Early In one of the moist unintentionally hilarious moments in the movie, Michael shocks his family by adopting a CGI baby chimpanzee named Bubbles sometime around 1979.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Hallfords’ case prompted laws mandating routine inspections and adopting a funeral director licensing system.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s a lack of humility, a lack of dignity, a lack of understanding of the world, a lack of embracing other perspectives.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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The phrase, coined by 33-year-old content creator and consultant Erica Mallett, refers to embracing those hard feelings.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrowing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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