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.
But structure for a teenager who might otherwise drift and cash for a family with none to spare are exactly the two things the lottery studies say matter most.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
So on a day when redemptions outweigh purchases, the fund could be forced to liquidate some of its investments to raise cash to pay the sellers.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
“Our target is to pay at least 75% of our cash available for distribution in the form of a dividend, and my expectation over time is to very much grow that dividend,” he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Many investors may be moving portfolios out of stocks that have risen strongly this year to free up cash for the SpaceX IPO expected this week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
“I don’t usually carry cash, so I had to stop at the bank. Sorry it took me a while.”
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
