borrowing

1 of 2

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

borrowing

2 of 2

present participle of borrow

Examples of borrowing in a Sentence

Noun 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.
Noun
Behrouz Mehri | Afp | Getty Images France's deteriorating public finances and political deadlock are becoming a growing concern for bond investors, with borrowing costs near financial-crisis-era highs as another difficult budget battle looms. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 The annual percentage rate (APR) provides a broader measure of borrowing costs by incorporating the interest rate and certain applicable fees. — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 In fact, higher interest rates actually work in their favor, while elevated borrowing costs squeeze younger Americans. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Government borrowing similarly has been in the news as the national debt hit a troubling $40 trillion and counting. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for borrowing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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 1 Sep. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on borrowing

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for borrowing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about borrowing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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