Meaning & use

borrow

verb·Everyday

To take and use something that belongs to someone else, with the intention of returning it.

See it in a sentence

Can I borrow your umbrella? I'll bring it back tomorrow.

The family borrowed money from the bank to buy their first home.

A note on using this word

Many learners confuse "borrow" and "lend": you borrow something from someone, but you lend something to someone.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

lendreturn

Make it your own

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