lend

verb

lent ˈlent How to pronounce lend (audio) ; lending

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned
lend me your pen
(2)
: to put at another's temporary disposal
lent us their services
b
: to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest
The bank lent him the money for home improvements.
2
a
: to give the assistance or support of : afford, furnish
a dispassionate and scholarly manner which lends great force to his criticismsThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
b
: to adapt or apply (oneself) readily : accommodate
a topic that lends itself admirably to class discussion

intransitive verb

: to make a loan
lendable adjective
lender noun
Loan vs. Lend: Usage Guide

The verb loan is one of the words English settlers brought to America and continued to use after it had died out in Britain. Its use was soon noticed by British visitors and somewhat later by the New England literati, who considered it a bit provincial. It was flatly declared wrong in 1870 by a popular commentator, who based his objection on etymology. A later scholar showed that the commentator was ignorant of Old English and thus unsound in his objection, but by then it was too late, as the condemnation had been picked up by many other commentators. Although a surprising number of critics still voice objections, loan is entirely standard as a verb. You should note that it is used only literally; lend is the verb used for figurative expressions, such as "lending a hand" or "lending enchantment."

Examples of lend in a Sentence

I lent our ladder to the neighbors. The bank wouldn't lend us the money. Many banks won't lend to people with bad credit. They are glad to lend their support to worthy causes.
Recent Examples on the Web In crisp, plain-spoken dialogue, the action clocks in at just under two hours, with some characters excised — Thomas is now a widower — and others beefed up, most notably his daughter Petra (an appealing Victoria Pedretti), whose warmth and integrity lend the proceedings some heart. Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 The curved, wide-leg silhouette lends an editorial edge to any outfit, making even the simplest pieces in your collection—button-downs, bomber jackets, light cardigans—pop. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2024 Warhol lent her money and even paid for some of her hormone treatments. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Proximity to a celebrity’s death can lend an object an additional, ghoulish frisson; this seems to be particularly true when the celebrity died under tragic circumstances. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 In order to help pay for the federal government’s large budget deficit, the Federal Reserve allows private sector companies to earn a little extra money, often through an intermediary, by essentially lending money to the Federal Reserve overnight. Will Daniel, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Marcos Lugo’s body was found draped in a fur coat his mother had lent him to shield him from the early morning winter cold. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 Aside from giving it a different texture that feels great on the skin, the waffle knit design also lends itself well to easily being dressed up or down and can be worn for just about any occasion with the right bottoms, shoes, and accessories. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024 Byrd also lent her talents to film soundtracks, including The Lion King 1 1/2, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and Sister Act II. Paul Grein, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lenen, (15th century) lenden "to give, bestow, give for temporary use," going back to Old English lǣnan, derivative of lǣn "something lent, grant, gift" — more at loan entry 1

Note: The -d- in late Middle English lenden, continued into Modern English, was imported from the past lende and the past participle lent, apparently by association with verbs such as bend entry 1, send entry 1, wend, where the dental consonant was part of the base form.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of lend was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lend

Cite this Entry

“Lend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lend. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lend

verb
lent ˈlent How to pronounce lend (audio) ; lending
1
a
: to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned
lend a book
b
: to let out (money) for temporary use with the understanding that it will be paid back with interest
banks and other lending institutions
2
: to give usually for a time
lend assistance
3
: to have the quality or nature that makes suitable
a voice that lends itself to opera
lender noun

Legal Definition

lend

verb
lent; lending

transitive verb

1
: to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned
2
: to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest

intransitive verb

: to make a loan
lendable adjective
lender noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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