borrowing

noun

bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce borrowing (audio)
ˈbȯr-
Synonyms of borrowingnext
: something borrowed
especially : a word or phrase adopted from one language into another

Examples of borrowing in a Sentence

He's compiling a list of Japanese borrowings in English. Students must have their own pencils. Borrowing is not allowed. Economists predict that there will be increases in government borrowing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As of July 1, borrowers now have fewer choices for repayment plans, higher interest rates, and tighter borrowing limits. — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Professional students will now be subject to a $50,000 annual borrowing cap and a $200,000 total cap. — Madeline Luebkert, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Sandy Baum, an expert in education finance with the Urban Institute, said the new loan limits are unreasonably low, but uncapped borrowing was a real problem and some restrictions are necessary. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 New federal borrowing limits are significantly lower, and the Grad PLUS loan program is disappearing for new borrowers. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for borrowing

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of borrowing was circa 1598

Rhymes for borrowing

See All Rhymes for borrowing

Browse Nearby Words

borrower
borrowing
borrowing days
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Borrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrowing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

borrowing

noun
bor·​row·​ing ˈbär-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce borrowing (audio)
ˈbȯr-
: something borrowed
especially : a word or phrase adopted from one language into another
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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