lend
LEND
/lɛnd/
To grant to (someone) the use of (something) on the understanding that it will be returned.
Implies a temporary transfer of possession from the perspective of the giver, with the expectation of return. It's the reciprocal action of 'borrow.'
The story behind the word. The word 'lend' comes from the Old English verb 'lǣnan,' meaning 'to grant, to give for temporary use.' This verb is related to the Old English noun 'lǣn,' which meant 'a grant or a thing lent.' The past tense and past participle forms 'lent' also derive from this Old English root.
Word relationships
- loan: Can be used as a verb, especially in American English, but 'lend' is generally preferred.
- advance: To give money before it is due, often a smaller amount.
- borrow: To receive something temporarily from someone else.
- take: To acquire possession of something, often without permission or expectation of return.
Commonly confused with
- borrow: 'Lend' is to give something temporarily; 'borrow' is to receive something temporarily.
Word family
- lender (noun): A person or organization that lends money.
Collocations
- lend money
- lend a hand (idiomatic)
- lend support
- lend an ear (idiomatic)
Idioms & expressions
- lend a hand
- lend an ear
- lend itself to (be suitable for)
Example sentences
- "I can lend you my umbrella; it looks like it's going to rain." A friend offering help.
- "Banks lend money to individuals and businesses, charging interest for the service." A bank's role.
- "The central bank decided to lend emergency funds to stabilize the financial markets." From a financial analyst's report.
Memory hook
To 'lend' is to 'send' something out temporarily. Lend = Send
When not to use
Do not use 'lend' if you are giving something permanently; use 'give' instead.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'lend a hand' (to help) is a common idiom that extends the idea of giving temporary support to an abstract concept.
Explore more words
reciprocal, reciprocate, Lease, reciprocity, impart, endorse
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.