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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

Analysts have pointed out that the race to build out AI data centres, servers and chips has compounded that problem, with tech titans no longer able to rely on their vast piles of cash.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Robinson said it plans to fund the cash portion of the deal with new debt financing, adding that it would pause share repurchases until it reaches its target leverage ratio after the transaction closes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Officers seized cash, documentation, digital devices and other high-value items.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Micron Technology is seeing a historic cash windfall — and much of that money will soon rain down on investors.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

Or was that the money from the cash box?

From "Trouble at the Arcade (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #1)" by Franklin W. Dixon

A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian operations of Metro Cash and Carry had been put under the "temporary management" of a company called UK Torg RUS.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Cash App, owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block, and trading platform Robinhood have already added banking features in their apps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Cash and Leventhal are taking the show to Europe in October 2026 before they stop back Nashville for a Nov. 9 performance at the Ryman Auditorium.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

"The two-horse race between Sinner and Alcaraz is not healthy for the tour," former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

It’s a greatest hits of Finch—Split Enz, the Clash, Johnny Cash, and on and on.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven

Related Words

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