money in the form of coins or banknotes, especially that issued by a government.
money or an equivalent, as a check, paid at the time of making a purchase.
to give or obtain cash for (a check, money order, etc.).
Cards.
to win (a trick) by leading an assured winner.
to lead (an assured winner) in order to win a trick.
He cashed his ace and led the queen.
cash in
to turn in and get cash for (one's chips), as in a gambling casino.
to end or withdraw from a business agreement; convert one's assets into cash.
Slang. to die.
After her parents cashed in, she lived with her grandmother.
cash in on to profit from; use to one's advantage.
swindlers who cash in on the credulity of the public.
banknotes and coins, esp in hand or readily available; money or ready money
immediate payment, in full or part, for goods or services (esp in the phrase cash down )
(modifier) of, for, or paid by cash
a cash transaction
a checkout counter
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French casse, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa “(cylindrical) case (for books)”; see also cashier 1
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)
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."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For instance, a survey late last year highlighted the rising number of firms considering selling ownership stakes to raise cash.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
The musician’s two minor children, daughter Emani and son Kross, were paid their inheritance consisting in cash and other assets, TMZ reported citing court documents.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026
SpaceX could also offer a cash-and-stock deal, which could deliver a sharper premium for Tesla investors but would likely strain SpaceX’s already pressured free cash flow, according to J.P.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
The owner of Aspen, Colo.’s Little Nell hotel is capitalizing on the property’s chic cachet to launch a new luxury hospitality brand, aiming to cash in on the booming high-end travel market.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
A mortgage bond was a claim on the cash flows from a pool of thousands of individual home mortgages.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
