as in adopting
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of borrowing
Parent borrowing for their undergraduates will also be restricted to $20,000 per student per year, with a lifetime limit of $65,000.
—
Jeffrey Selingo,
Time,
2 July 2026
But the summons that Reagan spoke in 1989, that John Winthrop created in 1630, borrowing from the New Testament, the summons to build a shining city that still speaks to all of us and still summons all of us.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
That’s doubly true in light of news that the Federal Reserve plans to increase rates to combat inflation, making borrowing more expensive.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrowing
Jeffrey Selingo,
Time,
2 July 2026
But the summons that Reagan spoke in 1989, that John Winthrop created in 1630, borrowing from the New Testament, the summons to build a shining city that still speaks to all of us and still summons all of us.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
That’s doubly true in light of news that the Federal Reserve plans to increase rates to combat inflation, making borrowing more expensive.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrowing
Verb
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Not Respecting Shrines and Temples Most Japanese people have a very loose relationship to religion compared to some Westerners, adopting practices from Buddhism, Shinto, and even Christianity.
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During the past decade, underwriters have pushed buzzy tech companies into adopting more staggered or shortened release dates for insiders to sell their shares, some even contingent on earnings or stock-price increases to dampen the flow.
Verb
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Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's son is embracing his time in the spotlight.
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Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment.
Cite this Entry
“Borrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrowing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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