cash in

verb

cashed in; cashing in; cashes in

transitive verb

: to obtain cash for

cashed in the bonds

intransitive verb

1

a

: to retire from a gambling game

b

: to settle accounts and withdraw from an involvement (such as a business deal)

2

: to obtain advantage or financial profit

—often used with on

cash in on a bestseller

Synonyms of cash in

• use
• abuse
• exploit
• walk on
• leverage
• play (on or upon)
• capitalize (on)
• manipulate
• trade on
• impose (on or upon)

Examples of cash in in a Sentence

some observers thought the lawyers were cashing in on the tragedy

Recent Examples on the Web

Partied with rock stars, danced and sang, and racked up cash in offshore accounts. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026

The custom is a reminder of the hotel’s brewery past when workers were given wooden tokens to cash in for a cold one at the end of a hard day. —Rebecca Deurlein, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026

He is set to cash in on that success in next month’s NFL draft. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026

The Warriors still found a way to get one of those goals back, with Ella Morgan cashing in on a rare mistake to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for cash in

• ashen
• fashion
• passion
• ration
• aurignacian
• internation
• compassion

Kids Definition

cash in

verb

1

: to obtain cash for

cashed in her bonds

2

: to benefit financially

souvenir sellers cashed in at the fair

cashing in on their brother's fame