Rent Meaning
Rent Definition & Usage
To pay money in exchange for the temporary use of something, typically property or equipment.
Examples
- "I have to rent a car for the weekend since mine is in the shop."
- "They rented an apartment in the city for a year while they worked there."
- "We’re looking to rent a house with a backyard for the kids."
- "She rented the apartment to a family from out of town."
- "The company rents office space in the downtown area."
To allow someone to use property or goods in exchange for regular payments, typically for a period of time.
Examples
- "She rents out a room in her house to a university student."
- "They decided to rent the beach house to tourists during the summer."
- "The landlord rents apartments to long-term tenants."
- "He rents out his bike to tourists when they come to the town."
- "The farmer rents his land to other growers during the off-season."
The payment made to a landlord or owner for the temporary use of property or goods.
Examples
- "The rent for this apartment is quite expensive compared to other areas."
- "We need to budget for rent when planning our monthly expenses."
- "His monthly rent is due on the 1st of each month."
- "I can’t afford the rent if I don’t get a job soon."
- "The rent on this office space includes utilities like electricity and water."
A tear, crack, or split in a material, typically fabric, leather, or paper.
Examples
- "There was a rent in the fabric of her favorite dress."
- "The storm caused a rent in the roof of the house."
- "The old book had a rent along its spine from years of use."
- "A large rent appeared in the canvas of the tent after the windstorm."
- "He could feel the rent in the paper as he held it up to the light."
Cultural Context
The word 'rent' originates from the Old French word 'rente' and Latin 'rendita', meaning 'income from property'. It has been in use for centuries, particularly in contexts related to leasing property or goods. Over time, it has broadened to include both the action of paying for use and the money exchanged for such use.
The Renters and the Rent
Story
The Renters and the Rent
Lena stood on the sidewalk, looking at the small brick house she had rented for the past three years. It was the first place she had truly called home since moving to the city. As a teacher, her salary was enough to cover rent, but only just. Today was rent day, and she felt the familiar knot in her stomach. She hadn’t heard from her landlord, Mr. Bradley, about the increase he’d mentioned last month, but she knew it was coming. Every year, he raised the rent slightly, always citing the market as justification. Inside, the apartment was cozy, with mismatched furniture and an old coffee table she’d picked up at a yard sale. The rent for the place was reasonable, but the cost of living had slowly crept up. She was considering renting out the spare bedroom to help with expenses. The idea of sharing her space with a stranger wasn’t appealing, but it seemed like the only way to make ends meet. Just then, the doorbell rang. Lena opened the door to find a young couple standing on the porch. They were looking to rent the house next door. 'We’re hoping to move in by next month,' the woman explained. Lena smiled, but the thought of giving up her little sanctuary was bittersweet. As she walked back inside, she noticed a small rent in the fabric of the chair she’d been sitting in. It wasn’t large, but it was a sign of the wear and tear the place had suffered. A small tear, much like the many cracks in her budget, was a constant reminder that nothing stays the same forever. Lena sighed, sat down at the kitchen table, and wrote the check for her rent. She didn’t know what the future held, but for now, she had a roof over her head, and that was something she couldn’t take for granted.
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