“Borrow” vs. “Lend”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “borrow” and “lend”

  • Borrowing involves taking something from someone else, while lending involves giving or allowing someone to use something.
  • The borrower is getting an item, which will be returned, from the lender.
  • The lender is the giver, while the borrower is the taker who will return the item at a later time.
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What is the definition of “borrow” and “lend”?

Borrow
  • To take or obtain something with the intention of returning it at a later time.
  • The act of receiving something with the expectation of paying it back.
  • Borrowing implies an agreement or understanding between the lender and borrower regarding the repayment terms.
Lend
  • To give or allow someone to use something for a specified period of time.
  • The act of providing something to someone with the expectation of getting it back in its original condition.
  • Lending involves giving possession of something to someone else temporarily.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Borrow” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Borrow
188,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Can I borrow your book for a few days?
  2. I need to borrow some money from the bank to pay for my rent.
  3. If you're going to borrow my car, please fill up the gas tank before returning it.
Lend
160,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I can lend you my umbrella since it's raining outside.
  2. My friend promised to lend me their laptop for my presentation tomorrow.
  3. Can you lend me a hand with carrying these boxes to the car?
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