as in to adopt
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
borrowed the basic plot from a book of tales, but put her personal stamp on the story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of borrow
Johnson’s finance team confirmed the downgrades would add to the city’s cost to borrow, but did not say by how much.
—
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Megan Hilty, now in Death Becomes Her, reportedly borrowed Meryl Streep’s Playbill bio verbatim — a power move if ever there was one.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
These machines also tend to be bulky, loud, and heavy—another reason they're better borrowed than bought.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
Investors are demanding the government pay a higher premium to keep borrowing, as the total debt has crossed $36.1 trillion.
—Arkansas Online, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for borrow
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Megan Hilty, now in Death Becomes Her, reportedly borrowed Meryl Streep’s Playbill bio verbatim — a power move if ever there was one.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
These machines also tend to be bulky, loud, and heavy—another reason they're better borrowed than bought.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
Investors are demanding the government pay a higher premium to keep borrowing, as the total debt has crossed $36.1 trillion.
—Arkansas Online, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for borrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrow
Verb
-
The term smart city, which first began to appear in the 1990s, is used to describe an urban area that adopts innovative digital technologies, data, sensors, and connectivity to improve a community’s livability, workability, and sustainability.—
Dr. Jonathan Reichental,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
The New York progressive has embraced the Democratic socialist label, despite pushback from within her own party.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
-
Although the world has embraced contactless payments, some markets still use cash.—
Gregory Robinson,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Borrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrow. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share