Jump To:

• 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.

---

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.

---

Cash ³ American  

[kash] / kæʃ /

noun

1. John Johnny, 1932–2003, U.S. country-and-western singer, musician, and composer.

---

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

---

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)

---

cash ³ British  

/ kæʃ /

noun

1. any of various Chinese, Indonesian, or Indian coins of low value

---

cash More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cash

• cold cash

---

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

As of Sept. 30, Anthropic had $95.6 billion in cash on its balance sheet, according to its prospectus.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 7, 2026

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand—one of the first central banks to increase interest rates from their Covid-era lows—has lifted the cash rate twice since mid-2026 in response to resurgent inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026

Investigators found cash throughout his house, hidden in walls, containers of spaghetti sauce and a potted plant, according to authorities interviewed in the film.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Pigott described caffeine as "a bit like going into your overdraft - you might immediately have a little bit more money or cash, but that does need to be repaid in some format".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

I climb down the ladder and run to the cash register.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

The owner of Cash App and Square reported third-quarter net income of $565.6 million, up from $461.5 million the year prior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

In the first half Matty Cash, Gomes and Johan Manzambi, twice, made Barca sweat as the visitors created chances without taking them.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Cash flows are being questioned over concerns that they’ve in some cases already turned negative, he said, noting that “investors are being more demanding on their expectations.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

“I feel like he’s kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

“Was that really Johnny Cash I was listening to all the time?”

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---