lend

lend — verb

1. To let another person use an item that is yours, on the understanding that they

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

To let another person use an item that is yours, on the understanding that they will return it after a short period.

Example

Jason lent Eshe his bicycle for the weekend trip to the beach.

lend + person + thing

Could you lend me a pen? I forgot to bring mine to class.

request form: could you lend me...

Common collocations
  • lend someone a hand
  • lend out
  • lend money
  • lend support
Synonyms
  • loan

    More common in American English; can be used as a verb similarly to lend

  • let someone use

    Less formal; emphasises permission rather than temporary transfer

Antonyms
  • borrow

    The receiving side of the same action

  • keep

    To retain possession rather than give temporarily

Grammar Patterns

lend + person + thing

lend + thing + to + person

Usage Note

Frequently used in the double-object construction: lend + person + thing (e.g. lend me a book). The opposite action is borrow: you borrow from someone who lends to you.

Common Mistakes

Can you borrow me your pen?
Can you lend me your pen?
'borrow' means receive, not give. Use 'lend' when you are the person giving.

2. When a bank supplies money to a borrower who must repay the sum received, usuall

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

When a bank supplies money to a borrower who must repay the sum received, usually while charging a fee known as interest for the service.

Example

The bank agreed to lend the Watanabe family enough money to buy their first home.

lend + family + money + purpose

Bilal is worried that the credit union will not lend him the funds he needs for his business.

Common collocations
  • lend money at interest
  • lend funds
  • lend at a rate
  • lend responsibly
Synonyms
  • advance

    More formal; often used for money given before it is earned or due

  • provide credit

    Focuses on the arrangement rather than the transfer

Antonyms
  • borrow

    Receive money from a lender

  • repay

    Give the money back to the lender

Grammar Patterns

lend + money + to + person / organization

lend + person / organization + money

Usage Note

Subject is typically a financial institution (bank, credit union, government), though individuals can lend money informally to each other. The interest rate is the percentage the borrower pays extra.

Common Mistakes

The bank borrowed me $10,000.
The bank lent me $10,000.
Banks lend money; customers borrow it.

3. A thing or feature gives a particular character or impression to a person, place

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

A thing or feature gives a particular character or impression to a person, place, or situation, making that quality noticeably part of it.

Example

The warm lighting in the café lends a cosy atmosphere to the whole room.

lend + quality + to + place (abstract quality)

Isabela's years of teaching experience lend credibility to her new book about education.

experience + lends + credibility + to + noun

Common collocations
  • lend credibility to
  • lend weight to
  • lend support to
  • lend an air of
  • lend a sense of
Synonyms
  • give

    More general and less formal; does not imply adding a noticeable character

  • impart

    More formal; suggests transferring a quality from one thing to another

  • bestow

    Very formal; suggests the quality is given as a gift or honour

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lend + quality noun + to + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is usually an abstract thing (feature, quality, experience) rather than a person acting deliberately. Not used in imperative form. Frequently appears in formal or descriptive writing.

4. Used to say that something is naturally appropriate for a particular purpose, us

4.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

Used to say that something is naturally appropriate for a particular purpose, use, or way of being interpreted.

Example

This novel lends itself well to being adapted into a film because of its strong plot.

lend itself + to + being + past participle

The data gathered in the study does not lend itself to any simple interpretation.

negative: does not lend itself to + noun

Common collocations
  • lend itself to analysis
  • lend itself to interpretation
  • lend itself well to
  • lend itself naturally to
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

lend itself + to + noun phrase

lend itself + to + being + past participle

Usage Note

Always requires 'itself' as the object and 'to' as the following preposition. The subject is an inanimate thing or abstract concept — not a person. 'Well' is a common adverb inserted before 'to'.

Common Mistakes

This room lends itself for studying.
This room lends itself to studying.
Always use 'to', not 'for', after 'lends itself.'
Phrasal verbs

lend itself to

phrasal verb

To be suitable for a particular use or purpose.

This old barn lends itself to conversion into a studio.

The novel's plot lends itself to a film adaptation.

Idioms

lend a hand

idiom

To help someone, especially with a practical task or physical work.

When Anong was moving her furniture into the new apartment, Ishaan offered to lend a hand.

The neighbours all lent a hand cleaning up the park after the storm passed through.

lend an ear

idiom

To listen to someone in a patient and sympathetic way, especially when they are upset.

After Talia's difficult day at work, her roommate sat down and lent a sympathetic ear.

The school counsellor is always willing to lend an ear to students who feel anxious.

lend weight to

idiom

To make an opinion, argument, or statement seem more likely to be true or more convincing.

The new scientific study lends weight to the theory that exercise improves memory.

Recent earthquake data lends weight to the warning that the region is at high risk.

lend your name to

idiom

To let it be known publicly that you support a particular cause, event, or organization, often allowing your name to be used for publicity.

The famous scientist lent her name to the climate change awareness campaign.

Several well-known actors lent their names to the charity fundraiser last year.

give/lend a helping hand

idiom

To provide assistance or support to someone.

Maya gave a helping hand to her elderly neighbor with groceries.

Can you lend a helping hand to finish this project on time?

lend colour to something

idiom

To make something appear more believable or probable.

The witness's story lent colour to the detective's theory.

Does the new evidence lend colour to the accusation?

lend an ear (to somebody/something)

idiom

To listen carefully and sympathetically to someone.

Sara lent an ear to her friend's troubles after school.

Could you lend an ear to my presentation before the meeting?

lend your name to something

idiom

To publicly support or endorse a cause, event, or product.

The famous singer lent her name to the charity concert.

Many scientists lent their names to the climate petition.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Lend and loan both describe giving something temporarily to someone else. Loan is more common in American English as a verb ('Can you loan me $20?'), while lend is used in both British and American varieties. The key contrast is with borrow: if you are the giver, you lend or loan; if you are the receiver, you borrow. Rent differs from lend in that rent implies payment for the temporary use (e.g., renting a car or an apartment), whereas lending is typically free, though sense 2 (bank lending) involves interest payments. A common learner error is saying 'borrow me something' when the intended meaning is 'lend me something.' To check: if you are the owner of the item, use lend or loan; if you are the one requesting it, use borrow.

lend ↗loan ↗borrow ↗rent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Lend comes from Old English lǣnan, meaning 'to grant temporarily' or 'to give on condition of return.' This word traces further back to the Proto-Germanic root *laihnijanan, which is related to the noun loan (from Old Norse lán). Both lend and loan ultimately come from the Proto-Indo-European root *leikw-, meaning 'to leave behind' or 'to remain.'