; lending
Loan vs. Lend: Usage Guide
The verb loan is one of the words English settlers brought to America and continued to use after it had died out in Britain. Its use was soon noticed by British visitors and somewhat later by the New England literati, who considered it a bit provincial. It was flatly declared wrong in 1870 by a popular commentator, who based his objection on etymology. A later scholar showed that the commentator was ignorant of Old English and thus unsound in his objection, but by then it was too late, as the condemnation had been picked up by many other commentators. Although a surprising number of critics still voice objections, loan is entirely standard as a verb. You should note that it is used only literally; lend is the verb used for figurative expressions, such as "lending a hand" or "lending enchantment."
Examples of lend in a Sentence
Clare Duffy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
For Prince William, who has such a great platform, to lend his voice, his resources into creating positive change is such a refreshing, wonderful thing to see.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Combined with a trendy silhouette, the fuzzy material lends any look a relaxed elegance, making these picks the GOAT.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2024
To achieve that old-world feel, Leigh and Hahn chose to mix rich hues with warm white oak and bold natural stones to lend an earthy and organic vibe.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lend 
Dictionary Entries Near lend
Cite this Entry
“Lend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lend. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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lend
verb
; lending
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