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.
The body of commentary that has developed since, particularly in the field of postcolonial studies, has traced the ways in which uninvited borrowings follow the vectors of asymmetrical power relations. Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026 The country's debt burden has also risen over the past year as borrowing costs have grown. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 1 May 2026 Inflation has been ticking up rapidly, and borrowing costs are still high compared to recent years, leaving millions of households to juggle quickly ballooning costs and record levels of debt. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 The good news for consumers is that borrowing rates are generally trending lower. Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Borrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrowing. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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
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