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 central bankers think that the rise in energy prices is unlikely to result in what are known as “second round effects,” they can leave borrowing costs unchanged.

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

Instead, households are saving less and borrowing more just to keep up their usual spending.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“They’ll say they’re buying them. But they’ll be borrowing dresses, mark my words,” Lillian insisted.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• financing