lend

Pronunciation

• enPR: lĕnd, IPA ^(key): /lɛnd/
• SAMPA: /lEnd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form lend

Third-person singular lends

Past tense lent

Past participle lent

Present participle lending

1. (transitive) When you lend something to another person, you let them use it, after which they must return it to you.
   • Antonym: borrow

   I lent my textbook to Jack to allow him to study from it.

   The main functions of banks are to hold your money safely and to lend some of that money to others.

2. (transitive) If $x$ lends $y$ support, believability, acceptance, etc., $x$ gives it to $y$.

   Several studies in recent years have lent support to this idea.

3. (transitive) If you lend a hand, you help.

   We're moving house next week and we were hoping you could lend us a hand.