as in adopts
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 borrows
The bond tax will likely increase as the district borrows more money to finance construction of a new seismically sound hospital tower for patient rooms.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Come next year, the trio will open doors on a new Italian American steakhouse concept that borrows its name from that popular phrase, Spacca Tutto, in the anchor spot formerly occupied by The Draycott.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In this case, Palazzolo borrows from another artist who shares the same irreverence for societal norms, all while questioning our society’s worship of labor.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Teams could also win their way into, and lose their way out of, the league’s remaining spots, which borrows from the relegation and promotion model that is central to European soccer leagues.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
The Lydia dress, which borrows the look of more contemporary pieces from the Royal Ballet, used the same hem circumference measurement as the company’s dresses.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
This frame borrows from Bernhard’s tailspin of a novel, set entirely in a narcissist’s armchair.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
With a boho top This denim trend borrows heavily from the bohemian look, so why not lean into it everywhere else?
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Come next year, the trio will open doors on a new Italian American steakhouse concept that borrows its name from that popular phrase, Spacca Tutto, in the anchor spot formerly occupied by The Draycott.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In this case, Palazzolo borrows from another artist who shares the same irreverence for societal norms, all while questioning our society’s worship of labor.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Teams could also win their way into, and lose their way out of, the league’s remaining spots, which borrows from the relegation and promotion model that is central to European soccer leagues.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
The Lydia dress, which borrows the look of more contemporary pieces from the Royal Ballet, used the same hem circumference measurement as the company’s dresses.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
This frame borrows from Bernhard’s tailspin of a novel, set entirely in a narcissist’s armchair.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
With a boho top This denim trend borrows heavily from the bohemian look, so why not lean into it everywhere else?
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrows
Verb
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Sheep in the Box is is set in the near future in which a couple adopts a state-of-the-art humanoid as their son, while Look Back is adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s eponymous bestselling manga about two girls pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
1 Jan. 2026
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Translating Anthony Burgess’s stylized, dystopian novel for the screen, Kubrick adopts a playful, formal approach that combines colorful, futuristic exuberance with rapid-fire editing, changes in camera speed, and a garish production design that melds space-age and Georgian-era aesthetics.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Change Agent leads with resilience, embraces uncertainty and helps teams move confidently through transformation.—
Kelly Jones,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The car embraces elegance without compromising on performance philosophy.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Borrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrows. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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