# borrow

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbɒɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #7,101

## Definitions
1. To receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it.
2. To receive money from a bank or other lender under the agreement that the lender will be paid back over time.
3. To adopt (an idea) as one's own.
4. To adopt a word from another language.
5. In a subtraction, to deduct (one) from a digit of the minuend and add ten to the following digit, in order that the subtraction of a larger digit in the subtrahend from the digit in the minuend to which ten is added gives a positive result.
6. To lend.
7. To temporarily obtain (something) for (someone).
8. To feign or counterfeit.
9. To secure the release of (someone) from prison.
10. To receive (something, usually of trifling value) from somebody, with little possibility of returning it.
11. To interrupt the current activity of (a person) and lead them away in order to speak with them, get their help, etc.
12. To adjust one's aim in order to compensate for the slope of the green.

## Etymology
From Middle English borwen, borȝien, Old English borgian (“to borrow, lend, pledge surety for”), from Proto-West Germanic *borgōn, from Proto-Germanic *burgōną (“to pledge, take care of”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to take care”).
Cognate with Dutch borgen (“to borrow, trust”), German borgen (“to borrow, lend”), Danish borge (“to vouch”). Related to Old English beorgan (“to save, preserve”). More at bury.

## Easily confused with
- **brow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/borrow-vs-brow)
- **burrow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/borrow-vs-burrow)
- **borrowed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/borrow-vs-borrowed)
- **borrower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/borrow-vs-borrower)
- **Boro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boro-vs-borrow)
- **boron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boron-vs-borrow)
- **barrow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrow-vs-borrow)
- **Barlow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barlow-vs-borrow)
- **Barron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barron-vs-borrow)

## Common misspellings (7)
`bborrow`, `bororw`, `borow`, `borroww`, `borrwo`, `brorow`, `obrrow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/borrow