Lend Meaning
Lend Definition & Usage
To give something to someone temporarily, with the expectation that it will be returned later.
Examples
- "Can you lend me your phone for a moment?"
- "I’ll lend you some money until payday."
- "She decided to lend him her favorite book, even though it was rare."
- "They were kind enough to lend us their car for the weekend."
- "I’m happy to lend you a hand if you need help with your project."
To give or provide a quality, feature, or characteristic to something.
Examples
- "Her presence lent a sense of calm to the meeting."
- "The old painting lent charm to the room."
- "His experience lent credibility to the project."
- "The new policies lend hope to many workers."
- "The scenery lent itself perfectly to the romantic mood of the film."
To provide money or resources for a specific purpose, often under an agreement for repayment.
Examples
- "The bank agreed to lend her the money for the house."
- "The company decided to lend capital to the startup to help it grow."
- "Can you lend me $20 until I get paid next week?"
- "The government lent billions of dollars to struggling businesses during the recession."
- "I can lend you the money for your rent, but you need to pay it back by the end of the month."
Cultural Context
The word 'lend' originates from Old English 'lendan', meaning 'to give temporarily'. It has been used in a variety of contexts, from informal borrowing of goods to formal financial loans. In modern usage, it has expanded to include providing qualities or characteristics to abstract concepts.
The Generosity of Lending
Story
The Generosity of Lending
It was an early spring morning when Sarah found herself walking down the street towards the library, with her mind preoccupied by a thousand thoughts. She had been struggling with her research paper for weeks, and the deadline was looming ever closer. When she arrived at the library, she remembered that the book she needed was checked out, and the next available copy wouldn’t arrive until the next week. Frustrated, she sighed and decided to head home. As she walked past the coffee shop, she saw her friend Emma sitting outside with a coffee. 'Hey Sarah! You look stressed. What’s up?' Emma asked. Sarah explained her dilemma, and Emma immediately offered a solution. 'Why don’t you lend me your notes from last semester? I can help you with the research part.' Sarah hesitated for a moment, but then agreed. Emma had always been kind to lend a hand when Sarah needed help. Afterward, Sarah had an idea. She decided to 'lend' a bit of her own creativity to her paper. She rewrote several sections of it, bringing in fresh perspectives. The paper turned out to be better than she could have imagined, and she couldn’t have done it without Emma’s notes and her own willingness to contribute something extra to the work. In the end, both Sarah and Emma felt the joy that came from lending something to each other, whether it was time, effort, or knowledge. It wasn’t just the material things that could be lent—it was the intangible support that made the difference. The story shows how 'lend' is used in various ways: to offer help or resources, to provide support, and even to lend one's abilities or qualities to a task.
Related Words
