1. the act or business of giving money to someone temporarily with the expectation that it will be paid back, usually with interest
2. the act of allowing someone to use something temporarily

Examples

• The bank’s lending policies have become stricter this year.
• Mortgage lending increased significantly last quarter.
• The library’s lending period for books is three weeks.
• Small business lending helps entrepreneurs start new companies.
• The lending of tools between neighbors builds community trust.
• Credit unions often offer better lending rates than traditional banks.
• Online lending platforms have revolutionized personal finance.