BORROW Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

borrow

verb

ˈbär-(ˌ)ō

Definition of borrow

as in to adopt

to take for one's own use (something originated by another) borrowed the basic plot from a book of tales, but put her personal stamp on the story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of borrow Their routine borrowed from the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy, including Hale looking straight into the camera in the way that Oliver Hardy had. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 This continues the Grand Sport tradition of sticking with the entry-level engine while borrowing all the performance-minded upgrades from elsewhere in the Corvette line. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026 Economists see the federal budget deficit running at roughly a $2 trillion pace for years to come, which means the government will have to borrow an ever-increasing amount. — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 The industry has borrowed the tactics of touring artists and fashion drops, promoting limited premium-format screenings and slinging special-edition popcorn buckets. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for borrow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrow

Verb

For many commercial fleets, access to fueling has remained one of the biggest obstacles to adopting natural gas vehicles.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
The Connecticut State Board of Education adopted new guidance Wednesday encouraging schools to implement bell-to-bell restrictions on cellphone and personal technology use.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of adopt

Verb

Whether leaders ultimately embrace all of Ries' conclusions or not, his larger message deserves careful consideration.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
With its fourth chapter, Reacher goes full neo-noir, embracing the genre’s fatalistic, gloomy approach while staying true to its action roots.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of embrace

Browse Nearby Words

boroughs

borrow

borrowed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Borrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrow. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of borrow

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on borrow

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vacuous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes