borrowing

American  

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

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonborrowing adjective
• preborrowing noun
• unborrowing adjective

Etymology

Origin of borrowing

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

Example Sentences

It would be funded by using a mixture of conventional capital, borrowing, and use of the mutual investment model.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

If workers are patient, or unsuccessful, inflation may fall back to pre-war rates even without a rise in borrowing costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The Bank's latest report into the risks facing the economy found borrowing costs were likely to rise as the result of the "shock" to the global economy.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

If confidence in the government’s fiscal management over the long run erodes, borrowing costs could rise, putting additional pressure on the budget.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

He’d gotten very good at borrowing, much better than I had.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

Related Words

• financing