lend

[lend]

verb (used with object)

lent, lending 

1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.

2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and often that interest is paid for its temporary use.

3. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully.

   to lend one's aid to a cause.

4. to adapt (oneself or itself ) to something.

   The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.

5. to furnish or impart.

   Distance lends enchantment to the view.

verb (used without object)

lent, lending 

1. to make a loan.

lend

/ lɛnd /

verb

1. (tr) to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent

2. to provide (money) temporarily, often at interest

3. (intr) to provide loans, esp as a profession

4. (tr) to impart or contribute (something, esp some abstract quality)

   her presence lent beauty

5. (tr) to provide, esp in order to assist or support

   he lent his skill to the company

6. to listen

7. to possess the right characteristics or qualities for

   the novel lends itself to serialization

8. to give support, cooperation, etc

Other Word Forms

• lender noun
• interlend verb
• overlend verb
• relend verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lend¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lend¹

C15 lende (originally the past tense), from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn _loan ¹ ; related to Icelandic lāna, Old High German lēhanōn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lend a hand, to give help; aid.

   If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.

Example Sentences

The Federal Reserve is struggling to persuade some banks to use a lending tool designed to improve the central bank’s control over short-term money markets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street has had questions about both Carvana’s lending and sales businesses.

Read more on Barron's

Eight used stolen photos of well-known European influencers to lend credibility.

Read more on Salon

Eventually the specifics of the character that would lend the movie its name began to take shape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But he said: "I sort of thought, well, this has happened to you, and you should lend your voice to it."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• add 
• afford 
• allow 
• contribute 
• extend 
• give 
• grant 
• impart 
• provide 
• supply