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• cash
  cash

  noun

  money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.
• Cash
  Cash

  noun

  John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

cash

¹ American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

1. money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.

2. money or an equivalent, as a check, paid at the time of making a purchase.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give or obtain cash for (a check, money order, etc.).

2. Cards.

   1. to win (a trick) by leading an assured winner.

   2. to lead (an assured winner) in order to win a trick.

      He cashed his ace and led the queen.

verb phrase

1. cash in

   1. to turn in and get cash for (one's chips), as in a gambling casino.

   2. to end or withdraw from a business agreement; convert one's assets into cash.

   3. Slang. to die.

      After her parents cashed in, she lived with her grandmother.

2. cash in on to profit from; use to one's advantage.

   swindlers who cash in on the credulity of the public.

idioms

1. cash in one's chips, to die.

cash ² American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

• cash
  plural

1. any of several low-denomination coins of China, India, and the East Indies, especially a Chinese copper coin.

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Cash ³ American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

1. John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

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cash ¹ British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. banknotes and coins, esp in hand or readily available; money or ready money

2. immediate payment, in full or part, for goods or services (esp in the phrase cash down )

3. (modifier) of, for, or paid by cash

   a cash transaction

4. a checkout counter

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verb

1. (tr) to obtain or pay ready money for

   to cash a cheque

Cash ² British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. Johnny. 1932–2003, US country-and-western singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His recordings include the hits "I Walk the Line" (1956), "Ring of Fire" (1963), "A Boy named Sue" (1969), and the American Recordings series of albums (1994–2003)

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cash ³ British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. any of various Chinese, Indonesian, or Indian coins of low value

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cash More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cash

• cold cash

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cashability
  noun
• cashableness
  noun
• cashable
  adjective
• uncashed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cash
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cash¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French casse, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa “(cylindrical) case (for books)”; see also cashier ¹

Origin of cash²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu the name of a copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa a weight (of precious metal)

Explanation

Cash is money. If you've got extra cash in your pocket, you can put a dollar in the tip jar when you buy a cup of coffee. When you use the word cash, you usually mean actual paper and coin currency: dollar bills and quarters, for example. People often contrast cash with credit cards or checks, and your favorite diner may have a sign that says "Cash only!" When you cash a check, a bank gives you the written amount in bills and coins. In the late 16th century, cash meant "money box," from the Latin capsa, "box."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cash Cash

Another nagging issue is that the company didn’t share much on its plans to return cash to shareholders when its Chips Act-related restrictions lift in December, Naji noted.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

Oviedo said that in the early hours of Thursday, four people were caught trying to remove bundles of cash from Mariaca's house aboard an ambulance.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

“If the transaction closes, then we could potentially estimate an 8% uplift in proportional earnings through FY27-28, and the potential for improved distributable free cash flows and ultimately distributions,” RBC says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

“Even when districts ultimately receive the money, that kind of maneuver complicates cash flow, raises uncertainty and pushes districts toward short-term decisions rather than stable strategies,” Barrera said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

It didn’t say how big the cash prize might be.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Cash was also at the heart of the debate over the crypto regulation Clarity Act.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Matty Cash is available after recovering from a muscle problem but fellow defenders Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen are out for a match in which Villa can expect to face pressure.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Cash gifts of more than $1,000 are not out of the ordinary for Weiss to give close family or friends.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Rosanne Cash is pausing performances on doctor’s orders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

“It’s Cash and Jewel and Vardaman and Dewey Dell,” pa says, kind of hangdog and proud too, with his teeth and all, even if he wouldn’t look at us.

From "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner

Related Words

• buck
• currency
• investment
• note
• payment
• refund
• reserve
• security
• stock
• supply