Definitions and Examples of borrow, owe, default
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To take and use something that belongs to someone else with the intention of returning it.
Example
He had to borrow money from his friend to pay for his rent.
To have an obligation to pay or repay someone for something received or borrowed.
Example
I owe my sister $20 for the concert ticket she bought for me.
To fail to fulfill an obligation, such as paying back a loan or debt.
Example
If you default on your credit card payments, your credit score will be negatively affected.
Key Differences: borrow vs owe vs default
- 1Borrow is the act of taking something with the intention of returning it, while repay is the act of giving back what was borrowed.
- 2Owe describes the state of having an obligation to pay or repay someone, while repay describes the act of fulfilling that obligation.
- 3Default is the failure to fulfill an obligation, while repay is the act of fulfilling that obligation.
Effective Usage of borrow, owe, default
- 1Financial Transactions: Use these antonyms to describe financial transactions, such as borrowing, lending, and repaying money.
- 2Debt Management: Use these antonyms to discuss debt management strategies, such as avoiding default and managing owed amounts.
- 3Legal Contexts: Use these antonyms in legal contexts, such as contracts, loans, and agreements.
Remember this!
The antonyms of repay describe opposite actions or situations related to paying back a debt or obligation. Use borrow to describe taking something with the intention of returning it, owe to describe having an obligation to pay or repay someone, and default to describe the failure to fulfill an obligation. These antonyms can be used in financial transactions, debt management, and legal contexts.