What does borrow mean?
Borrow is a fundamental verb describing the temporary acquisition of something with the intention of returning it — most often money, but equally books, tools, or a neighbour's ladder. Beyond physical objects, the word extends naturally to ideas and culture: languages borrow words, artists borrow techniques, and writers borrow plot structures, all implying adoption rather than theft because credit or return is expected. In arithmetic, 'borrowing' describes carrying a unit between columns during subtraction, and in golf it refers to allowing for a green's slope when putting. The word carries no strong register constraints, serving equally in casual conversation and formal finance. Its connotations are generally neutral, though phrases like 'borrowed time' or 'borrowed plumes' can suggest impermanence or undeserved credit. Few everyday words are as essential to how societies share resources and ideas.
To receive or take something temporarily with the intention of returning it; to adopt or take over something such as an idea or word from another source.
"He decided to borrow a book from the library rather than buy it."
Transitive; typically followed by the object taken and optionally 'from' indicating the source.
In golf, an allowance made for the slope of a green when aiming a putt; more broadly, the act of borrowing.
"You'll need to play plenty of borrow on this left-to-right putt."
The golf sense of 'borrow' as a countable noun is chiefly British.
Rare outside golf commentary, where 'borrows' refers collectively to slope allowances on putts.
"This green has some tricky borrows that punish overcautious players."
English 'borrowed' its very word for borrowing from the Vikings — and linguists joke that English doesn't just borrow words, it chases them down dark alleys and rifles their pockets.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of borrow
The word 'borrow' comes from Middle English 'borwen', borrowed itself from Old Norse 'borga', meaning to pledge or secure, derived from the Germanic root behind 'borg' (a stronghold or fortified place). This makes it a cousin of English words such as borough, burgh, and bury, which all descend from the same Proto-Germanic root *burg-. The connection is apt: pledging security against a debt was the original sense of securing a 'borrowing'. The word entered English during the Viking Age through Scandinavian settlement, replacing native terms.
How borrow is actually used
Informally, people sometimes use 'borrow' to mean taking something without permission ('someone borrowed my pen'), which can carry a mildly humorous or euphemistic tone. In British English, lending and borrowing are strictly directional: you borrow FROM someone and lend TO someone. The phrase 'borrow trouble' means to worry needlessly about future problems.
Easily confused with borrow
A loan is the thing given (noun), while to borrow is the act of taking it (verb) — though 'loan' can also be a verb meaning to lend.
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug by an animal, whereas 'borrow' means to take something temporarily with intent to return it.