borrows

Borrows is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb borrow, meaning to take and use something that belongs to another person with the intention of returning it.

In everyday and legal contexts, to borrow commonly refers to obtaining money or goods with a promise to return or repay. The lender retains ownership while the borrower gains temporary use. Common forms include loans, credit lines, overdrafts, and rental arrangements. Terms typically specify a principal amount, interest, a repayment schedule, and sometimes collateral. Depending on jurisdiction and contract, failure to repay can lead to penalties, limits on further borrowing, or legal action.

In linguistics, borrowing describes the adoption of words or expressions from one language into another; those items are called borrowings. The process often involves phonological and semantic adjustment to fit the recipient language, and borrowings can become fully integrated over time.

In macroeconomics and public finance, governments and institutions borrow by issuing debt instruments such as bonds or notes to raise funds for deficits or investments. Borrowing affects credit ratings and interest costs, and repayments usually rely on future revenues or tax receipts.