borrow

/ˈbɑːr.oʊ/

Say it: BAHR-oh

1. verb To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it.
Could I borrow your car for the weekend?
2. verb To adopt or take an idea, word, or style from another source and use it as one's own.
The architect borrowed heavily from classical Roman designs.
3. verb In mathematics, to regroup a number from a higher place value to a lower one in order to perform subtraction.
To subtract 9 from 42, you first have to borrow from the 4.

📖 Seen in the wild

May I borrow your pen for a moment to sign this document?
collected by @vocablast

✏️ borrow in a sentence

She had to borrow a dress for the wedding because she didn't have anything suitable.
The company plans to borrow against its assets to fund the new project.
Many English words are borrowed from French and Latin.
He's living on borrowed time after his diagnosis.
The film's plot borrows elements from a famous Shakespearean tragedy.
Can I borrow you for a minute? I need your opinion on this email.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

take use appropriate adopt scrounge obtain acquire plagiarize

take · more general and does not imply an intention to return the item.

use · focuses on the utility of the item rather than the temporary possession.

appropriate · a formal term that often implies taking something without permission.

adopt · used for ideas or styles, suggesting you are making them your own.

Opposites: lend, loan, return, repay, give

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'borrow' traces back to the Old English 'borgian', which meant 'to take something on security' or 'to stand as a pledge for someone'. This is related to the noun 'borg', meaning a pledge or guarantee. Over time, the meaning shifted from the act of giving a pledge to the act of receiving something based on a pledge to return it, leading to its modern sense.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

borrow moneyborrow a bookborrow an ideaborrow heavilyliving on borrowed time

The most common point of confusion is between 'borrow' and 'lend'. Remember that the action flows away from the lender and toward the borrower. You borrow *from* someone; someone lends *to* you. A common informal phrase is 'Can I borrow you?', which is a casual way of asking for a moment of someone's time or attention.

Word family: borrower, borrowing

💬 Quick answers

What is the difference between 'borrow' and 'lend'?

You 'borrow' something from someone, while someone 'lends' something to you. 'Borrow' is from the perspective of the person receiving, and 'lend' is from the perspective of the person giving.

What does 'borrow' mean?

In its most common sense, 'borrow' means to take something temporarily from someone else, with the understanding that you will give it back.

Can you borrow an idea?

Yes, 'borrow' is often used figuratively to mean adopting an idea, style, or concept from another source, especially in creative or academic fields.

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