# loan

/ˈɫoʊn/ (US) · /lˈəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/loan
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. borrowed money

noun · CEFR B1

money that you borrow from a bank or person and must pay back, usually with extra interest.

For teachers: a sum of money provided by a lender to a borrower on the condition that it be repaid, typically with interest, over a specified period.

- The bank approved her loan so she could finally buy a small apartment.
- The small business owner applied for a low-interest loan to cover the costs of upgrading the kitchen equipment before the summer season.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'take out', 'repay', or 'apply for'.

### 2. the act of lending

noun · CEFR B2

the act of letting someone use something for a short time.

For teachers: the act of granting temporary use of an object or property to another party.

- The famous painting is currently on loan to a museum in Paris.
- Several rare manuscripts were provided on loan from the national archives for the duration of the historical exhibition.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'on loan'.

### 3. to lend

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

to give something to someone for a period of time, expecting to get it back.

For teachers: to lend something to a recipient; frequently used ditransitively with both a direct and indirect object.

- Could you loan me your umbrella until tomorrow morning?
- He agreed to loan his brother the deposit for the flat, provided they signed a formal agreement regarding the repayment schedule.

Usage: In British English, 'lend' is preferred as the verb form.

## Examples

- I need a small loan to buy a new car.
- The bank approved her student loan application after she provided proof of her university enrollment.
- Small businesses often struggle to secure a commercial loan without significant collateral or a proven track record of annual revenue.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.