finance
Americannoun
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the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment.
-
finances, the monetary resources, as of a government, company, organization, or individual; revenue.
verb (used with object)
-
finances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
financed,
past participle, past
-
financing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
finances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
financed,
past participle, past
-
financing
present participle
noun
-
the system of money, credit, etc, esp with respect to government revenues and expenditures
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funds or the provision of funds
-
(plural) funds; financial condition
verb
-
(tr) to provide or obtain funds, capital, or credit for
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(intr) to manage or secure financial resources
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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superfinancenoun
-
prefinanceverb (used with object)
-
self-financeverb (used with object)
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underfinanceverb (used with object)
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financeableadjective
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unfinancedadjective
-
well-financedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
financesimple
-
financessimple
-
have financedperfect
-
has financedperfect
-
am financingprogressive
-
are financingprogressive
-
is financingprogressive
-
have been financingperfect progressive
-
has been financingperfect progressive
Past
-
financedsimple
-
had financedperfect
-
was financingprogressive
-
were financingprogressive
-
had been financingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of finance
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English finaunce, from Anglo-French, Middle French finance, from fin(er) “to end, settle, pay” ( see fine 2) + -ance -ance
Explanation
To finance something is to pay for it, like using the money you earn at your part-time job to finance your cell phone bill. As a verb, it carries two very different meanings: "to pay for" or "obtain on credit." So, if you can finance your trip, it means you have the money to pay for it. Anyone who works in finance, meaning the banking and investment industry, will tell you plenty of people get in trouble by letting credit cards finance things like vacations.
Vocabulary lists containing finance
"Women in Aviation," Vocabulary from the informational text
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Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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Economics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Wedged between those videos are messages about personal finance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
People are "incredibly loyal" to their bank which is why competitors need to offer sweeteners, says Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
You've got your A-level results, your university place has been confirmed, and you're applying for student finance.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
But Dan Plumley, senior lecturer in sport finance at Loughborough University in the UK, believes FSG have no immediate plans to cede complete control.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
An impeccably groomed and proper San Francisco lawyer with extensive connections on Wall Street and in Washington, Gaither was a habitue of the worlds of finance and of technology.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
In fact, Citizens Advice, a network of local charities that offers free confidential advice, including on finances, said more paying parents ask it for help than receiving parents.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
A nearly 500-page special examination released by Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball in June raised broader concerns about JCPS’s management and finances.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
A British government report released last month predicts “major sources of pressure on public finances over the next 50 years” as social spending consumes an ever-growing share of GDP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Money from taxing net investment income would contribute to the program’s finances, “so it isn’t just the younger generation that has to pay for solvency,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
He had a knack for pulling together a group of artistic people, guiding them in staging a play, raising money, and managing the finances.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
ESPN’s cash flow helped build Disney parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai, plus financed major renovations like California Adventure in Anaheim and Hollywood Studios in Florida.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
In the beginning, this new movement was largely financed by a pair of Los Angeles oil magnates.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
"The first leg of the artificial-intelligence boom was financed with cash, confidence and some of the strongest balance sheets in corporate America," wrote Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The firm is currently financed through project-level debt and equity, corporate equity commitments, and strategic capital from partners seeking exposure to AI-ready infrastructure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Pollard greeted her with a beautiful wedding, undoubtedly financed and planned by Marcela.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
The Times has reported he tapped the insurers he owned for financing, a deal that was later vetted by state insurance regulators.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
There is also AI’s voracious demand for financing, which could drive up borrowing costs, as well as its impact on productivity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
In addition, Paramount said that delaying the transaction until next spring will add $190 million in bridge loan financing costs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Now, another cornerstone of the company’s AI strategy — its in-house hardware — is coming under question thanks to Nvidia’s latest AI financing plans.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Will you be wanting financing? Would you like to talk with our finance manager?”
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
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.
