verb
lend
LEHND
verb
1
To let someone use something of yours for a while, on the understanding they will give it back.
"Can you lend me your umbrella until Friday?"
"The library lends books for three weeks at a time."
2
To give someone money temporarily, usually expecting it back with interest.
"The bank refused to lend him any more money."
"She lent her brother five hundred pounds to fix his car."
3
To add or contribute a particular quality to something.
"The candles lend the room a warm, cosy feel."
"His experience lends real credibility to the report."
How to Use Lend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo let someone borrow something, whether it's an object, money, or even a quality like credibility.
Common mistake
Lend and borrow point in opposite directions: you lend something TO someone, and you borrow something FROM someone. Don't say "can I lend your pen" when you mean "can I borrow your pen."
Common pairings
lend money
lend a hand
lend credibility
lend an ear
Word Forms
lent past tense, lends plural, lends singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “lend”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ me your umbrella until Friday?
Etymology
From Old English lǣnan, "to grant or give as a loan" — related to the noun "loan" itself.