lend

lendverb

To lend is to give something to someone for a time, expecting it back; the other senses use the same picture for giving a quality, help, or support.

1. give for a timegive something to someone for a time so that they can use it, expecting to get it back

   transitive [T] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Could you lend me your umbrella? V + obj + obj
   • Sam lent his car to a friend for the weekend. V + obj + prep + obj
   • I never lend books; I don't get them back. V + obj
   • Lend it to me for a day, and I'll bring it back. V + obj + prep + obj (pronoun objects: lend it to me)

   Collocations

   verb + noun lend money, lend a book, lend your car

   verb + preposition lend to someone

   phrase lend someone something, lend something to someone, lend out

   Synonyms loan (loan is common in American English, especially for money)

   Compare borrow (borrow is what the receiver does: she lent it to me; I borrowed it from her); rent (you rent something to someone for money)

   1. agive money to someone that they must pay back later, usually with interest

      transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

      • The bank lent them enough to buy a small apartment. V + obj + obj
      • Banks are lending less than they used to. (no object)

      Collocations

      verb + noun lend money, lend a large sum

      phrase lend at interest, lend at a low rate, lend to a business

   For translators (sense 1)

   Meaning across languages Lend and borrow are often one verb in other languages, or the direction is shown by a particle. In English lend is what the giver does and borrow what the receiver does: a bank lends, a customer borrows.

   Grammar trap Two patterns: lend someone something, or lend something to someone. When the thing is a pronoun, use the second: lend it to me.

2. add a qualitygive a particular quality to something

   transitive [T] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] formal

   • The old photographs lend the room a warm feeling. V + obj + obj
   • The new evidence lends weight to her story. V + obj + prep + obj (lend weight to: make more believable)
   • His presence lent the meeting an air of importance. V + obj + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun lend weight to, lend credibility to, lend an air of, lend color to, lend a touch of

   Synonyms give; add

3. give helpgive your help, your name, or your support to a person or a cause

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Several well-known people lent their names to the campaign. V + obj + prep + obj
   • Everyone lent a hand with the cleaning. V + obj (lend a hand: help)
   • The singer lent her voice to the concert for the hospital. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun lend support to, lend your name to, lend a hand, lend an ear, lend your voice to, lend your skills to

   Synonyms give

See also loan