cash flow

American  

noun

• cash flows
  plural

1. the sum of the after-tax profit of a business plus depreciation and other noncash charges: used as an indication of internal funds available for stock dividends, purchase of buildings and equipment, etc.

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cash flow British  

noun

1. the movement of money into and out of a business

2. a prediction of such movement over a given period

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cash flows
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cash flow

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cash flow

The sharply higher CapEx resulted in free cash flow of negative $5.4 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

The resulting cash inflow means the group’s net cash flow margin in its mainstay automotive segment will increase this year to between 5.5% and 7.5%, up from previous guidance of 3% to 5%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

A company’s free cash flow is its remaining cash flow after expected capital expenditures.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

The analyst thinks Tencent’s free cash flow should turn positive in 2027, opening room for larger shares buybacks from that point.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

He gobbled up the squash I bought him earlier, but my new cash flow didn’t convince him to stay.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins