borrowing

[bor-oh-ing, bawr-]

noun

1. the act of one who borrows.

2. the process by which something, as a word or custom, is adopted or absorbed.

3. the result of such a process; something borrowed, as a foreign word or phrase or a custom.

Other Word Forms

• nonborrowing adjective
• preborrowing noun
• unborrowing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of borrowing¹

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

Example Sentences

U.K. consumers felt a little better about their finances this month as the Bank of England lowered borrowing costs, though sentiment remains weak amid wider economic turmoil.

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Lots of other borrowing rates are priced off that baseline.

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Breeden also said there are risks involved in waiting too long to lower borrowing costs.

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Georgieva also called on the U.S. government to reduce its borrowing as a share of gross domestic product.

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Some of Mann’s fellow rate setters have stressed signs of a slowdown in the jobs market as a worry, and favor lowering borrowing costs to boost consumer spending and growth.

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Related Words

• financing