borrow

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/ˈbɑroʊ/
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Taking something from another source for use elsewhere.
Practice using borrow in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • May we borrow these chairs for the meeting?
  • Our design borrowed its colors from the local landscape.
  • I borrowed my sister’s coat and returned it the next day.
  • The song borrows a rhythm from jazz.
  • The company borrowed heavily during the crisis.

Similar words

adapt
obtain credit
regroup
take on loan
take out a loan
draw on
adopt
use temporarily

Meanings

Use something and return it

verb
everyday
neutral
To take and use something that belongs to another person for a while, intending to give it back.

Examples

  • Could I borrow your pen for a moment?
  • She borrowed a novel from the library.
  • I borrowed my sister’s coat and returned it the next day.
  • May we borrow these chairs for the meeting?
  • He never returns the tools he borrows.

Similar words

take on loan
use temporarily

Take money to repay

verb
finance
neutral
To receive money now with an agreement to pay it back later, often with interest.

Examples

  • We had to borrow money to repair the roof.
  • She borrowed £200 from her brother.
  • How much can they borrow from the bank?
  • The company borrowed heavily during the crisis.
  • I would rather save than borrow at that interest rate.

Similar words

take out a loan
obtain credit

Take an idea from elsewhere

verb
language and art
neutral
To take a word, idea, style, or method from another source and use it in a new setting.

Examples

  • English borrowed the word from French.
  • The film borrows ideas from old detective stories.
  • Our design borrowed its colors from the local landscape.
  • Can I borrow your idea for the opening activity?
  • The song borrows a rhythm from jazz.

Similar words

adapt
adopt
draw on

Regroup in subtraction

verb
mathematics
technical
To move value from a higher place-value column to the next one while subtracting numbers.

Examples

  • To subtract 8 from 13, borrow one ten.
  • She borrowed from the tens column to finish the problem.
  • Do we need to borrow here?
  • The teacher showed us how to borrow across a zero.
  • He borrowed one hundred and changed it into ten tens.

Similar words

regroup

Etymology

From Old English borgian, once used for lending or acting as a guarantor. Its sense shifted to taking something with a promise to return it.

FAQ

What does borrow mean?

It usually means taking something for a while with the intention of returning it.

What is the difference between borrow and lend?

The borrower receives the item, while the lender gives it for temporary use.

Can you borrow money?

Yes. You receive it now and agree to pay it back later.

What does it mean to borrow a word?

It means taking a word from another language and using it in a new one.

What does borrow mean in subtraction?

It means regrouping value from a higher place-value column to help subtract.

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