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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.
Synonyms

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.


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

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


Cash 3 American  
[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

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


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

    to cash a cheque

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cash 3 British  
/ kæʃ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cash More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing cash


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

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."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing cash

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Under the terms of the new integration, Afterpay on the Cash App card charges a flat 7.5% finance fee over a six-week repayment window.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Cash into SpaceX will, almost arithmetically, result in cash coming out of the stock market’s most liquid names.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Five British players - Neal Skupski, Henry Patten, Julian Cash, Lloyd Glasspool and Joe Salisbury - are ranked inside the world's top 10 and all have won Grand Slam titles over the past six seasons.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Senior Cash Ginsberg finished with five goals and junior North Carolina commit Tripp King finished with two goals.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Cash registers chime, and shouts of laughter are eclipsed by a huge boom.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

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