cash

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: ready money
2
: money or its equivalent (such as a check) paid for goods or services at the time of purchase or delivery

cash

2 of 4

adjective

: being a method of accounting that includes as income only what has been received and as expenses only those paid compare accrual

cash

3 of 4

verb

cashed; cashing; cashes

transitive verb

1
: to pay or obtain cash for
cash a check
2
: to lead and win a bridge trick with (a card that is the highest remaining card of its suit)
cashable adjective

cash

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural cash
1
: any of various coins of small value in China and southern India
especially : a Chinese coin with a square hole in the center
2
: a unit of value equivalent to one cash

Illustration of cash

Illustration of cash
  • 4cash 1

Examples of cash in a Sentence

Verb The store wouldn't cash the check. He cashed his paycheck at the bank.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At least some of that cash went to Poston's marketing company, called J2 Media. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Merchant cash advances are already a controversial means of providing short-term liquidity because, unlike a traditional loan, they’re seen as advances on future revenue. María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Customers must submit a claim to get a cash payment. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 His exoneration could restore your faith in humanity. March 2, 2024 The families were sometimes paid nominal cash amounts, as the Nazis feigned administrative legitimacy for their systematic theft of Jewish wealth, but the same families were precluded from taking cash out of the country. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The total cash payout would be about $230 billion for just San Francisco. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Weber joined Season 2 of Peacock’s competition series as a Faithful, someone who is covertly working to sniff out the three Traitors within the cast and banish them out to take home the cash prize. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing offers a $485 jackpot as an annuity and $232.4 million in cash. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 The firm’s cash net revenue (after third party royalty reductions and administration expenses) was $121.7 million for the 12-month royalty statement period ended June 30, 2023, according to Shot Tower’s analysis. Richard Smirke, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Total revenues and gifts were $230 million in fiscal 2023, down from $288 million last year, largely owing to fewer donations of cash and non-cash assets, offset by higher investment returns. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Dec. 2023 London, 38, who dated the late rapper from 2013 up until his death, will be awarded 50% of cash and non-cash assets on behalf of Kross. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 Although this type of reporting has historically been limited to pure cash transactions, the infrastructure bill extended the requirement to digital assets which are–ironically–treated as non-cash property by the IRS in general. Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023 The restructuring program is expected to result in approximately $130 million in cash charges related to severance and other exit and restructuring activities and $80 million in non-cash charges. oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2022 About $365 million of non-cash charges will include a $291 million impairment related to its New York City flagship retail store, recognized during the first quarter. Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, 8 Sep. 2020 So the rich hold a lot of non-cash bearing assets. Edward J. McCaffery, CNN, 26 Oct. 2021 The last time a task force looked at PILOT payments in the city was a decade ago and the community benefits, or non-cash, contributions will now be re-examined, with officials looking at how to make the program’s benefits most equitable. BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2021 The ex-police officer was arrested on May 29, four days after Floyd died, but was released from jail on a $1 million non-cash bond in early October. Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2020
Verb
Many people will be cashing five-figure bonus checks. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 The regional manager told authorities that on Feb. 3, Stengel had cashed a $7,000 inheritance check before heading to work, and while at work showed several employees a large roll of cash, and that Ingram was one of those who saw the money. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2024 Checking into the game with 5:11 left to give the Suns a lineup with five guys able to cash 3s and switch on defense, Gordon hit two clutch 3s with the latter tying the game, 115-115, with 45.4 seconds left. Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 17 Jan. 2024 Once the checks are cashed, taxpayers may only apply for the voluntary disclosure program (VDP). Daniel Mayo, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 He’s cashed 73 of 195 3s for 37.4% with 114 assists to 61 turnovers. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Louie then drew trumps and let the queen of diamonds ride, and East produced the king and cashed his high spades. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2024 To cash electronic bonds: Go to your TreasuryDirect account. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024 When declarer played low, West won and cashed his major-suit aces. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest — more at case

Noun (2)

Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1622, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cash was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near cash

Cite this Entry

“Cash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cash. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cash

1 of 2 noun
1
: money in the form of coins or bills
2
: money or its equivalent (as a check) paid for goods at the time of purchase or delivery

cash

2 of 2 verb
: to pay or obtain cash for
cash a check
Etymology

Noun

from early French casse or early Italian cassa, both meaning "money box," from Latin capsa "chest, box" — related to case entry 2

Legal Definition

cash

noun
1
: ready money
2
: money or its equivalent (as a check) paid for goods or services at the time of purchase or delivery

More from Merriam-Webster on cash

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