lexicow

borrow

/ˈbɑːroʊ//ˈbɒrəʊ/·verb
Two open hands in the dark, mine on the left. A coin rests in the other's hand, and an arrow curves back toward me as it slides across into my palm — but it glows their colour, not mine, and when the loan is up it returns to them. The arrow tells the whole story: the money comes toward me. I held it and spent it, but it was always theirs.
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Definition

To borrow is to take something that is not yours for temporary use, on the understanding that you will return it: you borrow a book, money, or a tool, and the owner expects it back. The focus is on the receiver — the thing comes to you, but the bond of ownership stays with the lender, which is exactly why it has to go back. From Old English borgian, 'to give a pledge'. Do not confuse it with lend, which is the same loan seen from the giver's side. Figuratively, a writer can borrow an idea from another.

Examples

  • May I borrow your notes to substantiate the figures in my report?
  • She borrowed a ladder from a neighbour and returned it the next morning.
  • Languages constantly borrow words from one another, then adapt them to fit.

Collocations

borrow money from·borrow a book·borrow heavily·may I borrow·borrow against

Synonyms

take on loan·use temporarily·draw on

Antonyms

lend·return·own

See also

Word family

borrower (noun)·borrowing (noun)

In TOEFL & IELTS

A high-frequency confusable in TOEFL/IELTS. Borrow is to take (the receiver's side); lend is to give (the owner's side). The classic error is 'can you borrow me a pen?' — there it should be lend ('can you lend me a pen?'). Borrow takes from: 'borrow something from someone'. In academic writing it also describes ideas or methods taken from another field ('the model borrows from economics').