lend

UK: /ˈlɛnd/ US: /lɛnd/ ,(lend)

Inflections of 'lend' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

lends

v 3rd person singular

lending

v pres p

lent

v past

lent

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lend /lɛnd/   v., lent/lɛnt/  lend•ing. 

1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned: [~ + object]
   He doesn't like to lend things.
   [~ + object + to + object]
   He lent his lawnmower to me.
   [~ + object + object]
   He lent me his lawnmower.
2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and that interest is paid for its temporary use: [~ + object]
   The bank lends money at high interest rates.
   [~ + object + to + object]
   The bank wouldn't lend the money to him.
   [~ + object + object]
   The bank refused to lend him money.
3. Library Science (of a library) to allow the use of (books and other materials) outside library premises for a certain period: [~ + object]
   The library lends videotapes.
   [~ + object + to + object]
   That library will lend videotapes to anyone living in the vicinity.
   [~ + object + object]
   The library will lend you the videotapes.
4. to give or contribute willingly or helpfully: [~ + object]
   always there lending support.
   [~ + object + to + object]
   lent their support to the cause.
   [~ + object + object]
   He lent their cause his support.
5. to adapt (itself or oneself ) to something;
   be suitable for:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + oneself + to] The building lends itself to inexpensive remodeling.
6. to give, confer, furnish, or impart (a quality) to something: [~ + object + to + object]
   A fireplace lends coziness to a room.
   [~ + object + object]
   The use of a warm color there lends the room cheeriness.

Idioms

7. Idioms lend a hand, to give help;
   aid: [no object]
   Can you lend a hand with this job?
   [~ + object + a hand]
   Can you lend us a hand?
   [~ + to + object]
   Lend a hand to the others.

lend•er, n. [countable]
Usage

See borrow.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lend  (lend), v., lent, lend•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and that interest is paid for its temporary use.
3. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully:
   to lend one's aid to a cause.
4. to adapt (oneself or itself ) to something:
   The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.
5. to furnish or impart:
   Distance lends enchantment to the view.

v.i. 

6. to make a loan.
7. Idioms lend a hand, to give help;
   aid:
   If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.

• bef. 900; Middle English lenden, variant (origin, originally past tense) of lenen, Old English lǣnan (cognate with Dutch lenen, German lehnen, Old Norse lāna), derivative of lǣn loan; cognate with German Lehnen, Old Norse lān. See loan¹

lend′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lend / lɛnd/ verb (lends, lending, lent / lɛnt/)

1. (transitive) to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent
2. to provide (money) temporarily, often at interest
3. (intransitive) to provide loans, esp as a profession
4. (transitive) to impart or contribute (something, esp some abstract quality): her presence lent wisdom
5. (transitive) to provide, esp in order to assist or support: he lent his skill to the company
6. lend an ear ⇒ to listen
7. lend itself ⇒ to possess the right characteristics or qualities for: the novel lends itself to serialization
8. lend oneself ⇒ to give support, cooperation, etc

Etymology: 15th Century lende (originally the past tense), from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn loan¹; related to Icelandic lāna, Old High German lēhanōn

ˈlender noun