Borrow Meaning, Usage and Examples

Meaning 1：take temporarily (borrow)

borrow 🔊

/ˈbɒrəʊ/

To take something from someone else to use for a short time, with the plan of giving it back later.

Borrow a book from a friend hand exchange

take temporarily 🔊

➕

/teɪk ˈtɛmpərərɪli/

To receive something from someone with the intention of giving it back after a period of time.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English 'borgian' (to lend, borrow), from Proto-Germanic *burgōną, related to 'borrow' and 'borough'.

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a friend 'borrowing' a book: 'Borrow' sounds like 'barrow' (wheelbarrow) – you take something and later return it.

📖 Example

I forgot my charger, so I had to borrow one from my classmate. 🔊 I forgot my charger, so I had to borrow one from my classmate.

🔗 Collocations

borrow money from – to obtain money from someone with the promise to repay

borrow a book from the library – to take a book out of the library for temporary use

borrow someone's idea – to use someone else's idea with permission

🔄 Synonyms

take on loan (phrase) – to obtain something temporarily with the expectation of returning it

use temporarily (phrase) – to have the use of something for a short period

scrounge (v.) – to obtain something by asking or from another person, often informally (may imply not returning)

🚫 Antonyms

lend (v.) – to give something to someone for temporary use, expecting it back

return (v.) – to give back something that was borrowed

keep (v.) – to retain possession of something permanently

🌱 Derivatives

borrower (n.) – a person who borrows something

borrowing (n.) – the act of taking something temporarily

borrowable (adj.) – able to be borrowed

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Old English 'borgian', meaning 'to lend or borrow'. In modern English, it's central to financial and social exchanges, often used in libraries and peer-to-peer lending.