BORROW Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

borrow

verb

ˈbär-(ˌ)ō

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

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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 The state created the authority in 1972 to issue tax-exempt bonds that help nonprofit hospitals and public universities borrow money at lower cost. —

Joshua Haiar, States Newsroom, 9 Jan. 2026 In 2025, 966,920 books and other items were borrowed, 109,260 questions answered by reference librarians and 57,782 people attended library programs, library officials said. —

Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026 And at the very end of the conversation, one of the panelists, Sarah Myers West, who does a lot of work in AI policy, ended with something that was very—to borrow the term—resonant to me. —

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 Traditionally, brides marrying into the British royal family borrow a tiara from their future husband’s family—getting the rare opportunity to sample the Crown’s multi-million-dollar jewelry collection. —

Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for borrow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrow

Verb

While the future of the IT workforce appears uncertain, its non-human partners are set to thrive as companies increasingly adopt new technologies.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Justice Sonia Sotomayor offered sharp commentary on Tuesday about the Supreme Court‘s recent rulings, claiming the high court has adopted several past dissenting opinions as new rulings.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2026