borrowed; borrowing; borrows
1
a
: to receive with the implied or expressed intention of returning the same or an equivalent
borrow a book from the library
borrowed a dollar
borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor
b
finance
: to borrow (money) with the intention of returning the same plus interest (see interest entry 1 sense 3a)
borrow money from the bank
2
a
: to appropriate for one's own use
borrow a metaphor from Shakespeare
3
mathematics
: to take (one) from a digit of the minuend in arithmetical subtraction in order to add as 10 to the digit holding the next lower place
4
: to adopt into one language from another
The English word "entrepreneur" was borrowed from French.
5
dialect
: lend
Borrow me your pencil.
: to borrow something
borrows heavily from Nietzsche
Examples of borrow in a Sentence
The twins often borrow each other's clothes.
I'm borrowing a friend's car for the weekend.
He borrowed the book from the library.
Will you see if we can borrow a cup of sugar from the neighbors?
She borrowed $20 from me.
The speech was peppered with phrases borrowed from Winston Churchill.
She borrowed the technique from local artisans.
Recent Examples on the Web
The rest would be covered by borrowing up to an additional $4 trillion, vastly increasing the federal debt.
—
Richard McGahey, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
The basics of interest rates Interest rates are simply the cost of borrowing money.
—Stephanie Colestock, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
Yes, but: This week, WBEZ reported that the mayor has renewed calls for the CPS board to borrow money to pay for those pensions.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
Consider, for example, the pairing a pleated denim skirt with boho vibes with a mannish windowpane blazer with exaggerated shawl lapels seemingly borrowed from one’s partner or grandfather.
—Martino Carrera, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for borrow
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Richard McGahey, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
The basics of interest rates Interest rates are simply the cost of borrowing money.
—Stephanie Colestock, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
Yes, but: This week, WBEZ reported that the mayor has renewed calls for the CPS board to borrow money to pay for those pensions.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
Consider, for example, the pairing a pleated denim skirt with boho vibes with a mannish windowpane blazer with exaggerated shawl lapels seemingly borrowed from one’s partner or grandfather.
—Martino Carrera, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for borrow
Cite this Entry
“Borrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrow. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
borrow
verb
bor·row
ˈbär-ō 
ˈbȯr-
1
: to take or receive something with the promise or intention of returning it
2
: to take for one's own use something begun or thought up by another : adopt
borrow an idea
3
: to take 1 from the digit in a minuend and add it as 10 to the digit in the next lower place
Biographical Definition
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