borrowing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral - common in formal and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “borrowing” mean?
The act of taking and using something (money, an object, an idea, or a word) from another person or source with the intention of returning it or acknowledging its origin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of taking and using something (money, an object, an idea, or a word) from another person or source with the intention of returning it or acknowledging its origin.
1. In finance, the obtaining of money on credit. 2. In linguistics, the process by which one language takes a word or phrase from another language. 3. The appropriation or adoption of ideas, styles, or techniques from other cultures or fields.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Spelling and some minor lexical preferences in financial contexts (e.g., 'loan' vs. 'borrowing').
Connotations
Equally neutral in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in formal financial contexts, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “borrowing” in a Sentence
borrowing of [something] (e.g., borrowing of money)borrowing from [source] (e.g., borrowing from French)borrowing by [agent] (e.g., borrowing by the government)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “borrowing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Can I borrow your umbrella? It's tipping it down.
- The government may need to borrow billions.
American English
- Can I borrow your truck for the move?
- The university borrowed heavily to build the new stadium.
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable.]
American English
- [Not applicable.]
adjective
British English
- [Not standard. Use 'borrowed'.]
American English
- [Not standard. Use 'borrowed'.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to corporate or national debt. 'The company's borrowing has increased to fund expansion.'
Academic
Used in linguistics, anthropology, and literary studies. 'The paper examines lexical borrowing between English and Norse.'
Everyday
Refers to lending items between people or taking out a personal loan. 'I need to keep track of my book borrowings from the library.'
Technical
In finance: the act of obtaining capital. In computing/library science: the temporary use of a resource.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “borrowing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “borrowing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “borrowing”
- Using 'borrowing' as a verb (it's a noun/gerund). 'I am borrowing money' is correct, but 'My borrowing money is a problem' uses it as a gerund.
- Confusing 'borrowing' (taking) with 'lending' (giving).
- Misspelling: 'borowing' (missing an 'r').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Borrowing implies temporary use and an intention to return or acknowledge the source, especially in non-physical contexts (ideas, words). Stealing implies taking without permission and with no intention of returning.
The word 'borrowing' itself is a noun (or gerund). The base verb is 'to borrow'. 'Borrowing' can function as a gerund (e.g., 'Borrowing money is common').
The opposite action is 'returning' or 'lending' (from the library's perspective).
No. While a common use is financial, it is equally important in linguistics (word borrowing), cultural studies, and everyday situations (borrowing objects).
The act of taking and using something (money, an object, an idea, or a word) from another person or source with the intention of returning it or acknowledging its origin.
Borrowing is usually neutral - common in formal and informal contexts. in register.
Borrowing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒr.əʊ.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːr.oʊ.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'borrowing' as a noun. Related: 'borrow trouble' (verb).]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'borrow' + 'ing'. A BORROWer is ING (in the process of) taking something.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/WORDS ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED/TAKEN. DEBT IS A BURDEN.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'borrowing' LEAST likely to be used?