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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of borrows
The model borrows from tech culture’s open-source ethos.
—
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Their technique borrows from results obtained during a 2022 test mission for asteroid collision, called Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The film also borrows its name from the 1972 Diamond song.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
The India-meets-NYC brand borrows from Burmese women’s sacred and millennia-old beauty regimens, promising numerous skin benefits like brightening, smoothing, and deep-cleaning.
—Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
So Kleox borrows from conventional teardrop design to put forth a solution – or a functional alternative, at least.
—New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
The current range borrows heavily from Audi's HMI setup.
—Tamara Warren, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The Smashing Machine borrows its title from director John Hymas’s gritty 2003 documentary about Kerr, 56, an Ohio native of Irish and Puerto Rican descent.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
This approach borrows from Martin’s media roots, where packaging and distribution were just as important as content creation.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Their technique borrows from results obtained during a 2022 test mission for asteroid collision, called Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The film also borrows its name from the 1972 Diamond song.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
The India-meets-NYC brand borrows from Burmese women’s sacred and millennia-old beauty regimens, promising numerous skin benefits like brightening, smoothing, and deep-cleaning.
—Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
So Kleox borrows from conventional teardrop design to put forth a solution – or a functional alternative, at least.
—New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
The current range borrows heavily from Audi's HMI setup.
—Tamara Warren, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The Smashing Machine borrows its title from director John Hymas’s gritty 2003 documentary about Kerr, 56, an Ohio native of Irish and Puerto Rican descent.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
This approach borrows from Martin’s media roots, where packaging and distribution were just as important as content creation.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrows
Verb
-
If Postecoglou adopts a high defensive line straight away, there might still be some recovery defending for these players to do, which can keep defensive numbers high, as has been the case for Van Dijk at Liverpool.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
There’s a bit in the show where Gillis adopts a lost turtle and names it Jerome Bettis.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And up in orbit, the Enterprise also embraces the fantasy vibe, deploying a Vulcan mind-meld to get Spock and Kirk piloting the Enterprise and Farragut, respectively, in telepathic unison.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The entire performance is a shining spotlight on the record, which toys with the malleability of their sound and embraces unconventional approaches to an already robust sound.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Borrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrows. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share