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.
He argues that capex and margin fears are only short-term as the company ramps up its construction of artificial-intelligence infrastructure, with free cash flow expected to rise substantially from fiscal 2029 onward.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
The billions of dollars in extra cash are going initially into FIFA's reserves, with that promise to distribute its funds to the global football family.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
To head off that outcome, these same critics invariably call for ever-stricter restrictions on eligibility and cuts in the cash provided.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Times investigations found nine people who said they were paid small amounts of cash by recruiters to sue the county for sex abuse in juvenile halls.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
He pulled a five-dollar bill out of his pocket and tossed it into the cash box.
From "Trouble at the Arcade (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #1)" by Franklin W. Dixon
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.
