lend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
-
to give (money) on condition that it is returned and often that interest is paid for its temporary use.
-
to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully.
to lend one's aid to a cause.
-
to adapt (oneself or itself ) to something.
The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.
-
to furnish or impart.
Distance lends enchantment to the view.
verb (used without object)
idioms
verb
-
(tr) to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent
-
to provide (money) temporarily, often at interest
-
(intr) to provide loans, esp as a profession
-
(tr) to impart or contribute (something, esp some abstract quality)
her presence lent beauty
-
(tr) to provide, esp in order to assist or support
he lent his skill to the company
-
to listen
-
to possess the right characteristics or qualities for
the novel lends itself to serialization
-
to give support, cooperation, etc
Other Word Forms
- interlend verb
- lender noun
- overlend verb
- relend verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of lend
First recorded before 900; from Middle English lenden, variant (originally past tense) of lenen, Old English lǣnan (cognate with Dutch lenen, German lehnen, Old Norse lāna ), derivative of lǣn loan; cognate with German Lehnen, Old Norse lān; loan 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.
Intel is the first major chip maker to lend Elon Musk a helping hand in his bid to launch a potentially multitrillion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing project.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
Reports say this careful selection of judges, representing different genders, religions, castes and regions, will help "lend wider legitimacy to a verdict that will inevitably traverse contested terrain".
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
If they shrink, the thousands of companies they lend to could find it more difficult and expensive to refinance their debts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Banks and other institutions rely daily on that abundance of cash to settle payments, fund trades, and lend to each other overnight in the repo, or repurchase market.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
It wasn’t immediately obvious—after all, the best way to avoid the risk of General Electric’s defaulting on its debt was not to lend to General Electric in the first place.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
