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

The Fed won’t have much leeway — if any — to cut interest rates and reduce borrowing costs on mortgages and other loans if inflation is heading higher.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

His company grew rapidly, lifted by an economic boom in China that was driven by heavy borrowing.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The author is bitter toward the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the public corporation overseeing New York transit, for borrowing from Wall Street, just as the private rail lines did.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Another reason is a company called United Rentals, which has cashed in on a trend toward companies borrowing rather than buying construction equipment.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Eisman and his partners focused concretely on the people doing the borrowing and the lending.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• financing