borrow
verb (used with object)
to take or obtain with the promise to return the same or an equivalent.
were borrowing
-
past progressiveof borrow.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
By then, investors had been heavily shorting Avis, meaning they were borrowing shares and selling them at market prices on a bet they could buy them back at a cheaper price.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Also, it said, more people were borrowing to buy assets like home and vehicles which is "not a sign of distress but of confidence in the future employment and income prospects".
From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2024
Frankly, we were borrowing the equity that they created with Paper.
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2023
AXA Investment Managers Chief Economist Gilles Moec noted small and big U.S. banks were borrowing heavily and holding onto cash, citing Fed data showing bank asset and liability positions as of March 15.
From Reuters ● Mar. 29, 2023
One minute Marlena and I were in it up to our eyeballs, and next thing we knew the kids were borrowing the car and fleeing the coop for college.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
