borrowing

American

[bor-oh-ing, bawr-] / ˈbɒr oʊ ɪŋ, ˈbɔr- /

noun

the act of one who borrows.
the process by which something, as a word or custom, is adopted or absorbed.
the result of such a process; something borrowed, as a foreign word or phrase or a custom.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of borrowing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at borrow, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The prospect of higher borrowing costs has hurt the tech industry in particular as they dent consumer spending while firms also rely on debt to power innovation.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The Google equity offering comes on the heels of a Big Tech borrowing spree.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

The prospect of higher borrowing costs hit companies big and small, with the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies losing 3.5%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

While a strong jobs market is usually good news for the economy, it means the Federal Reserve is less likely to cut borrowing costs anytime soon.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Didn’t she know the difference between stealing and borrowing?

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023