cash

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkash How to pronounce cash (audio)
Synonyms of cash
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
ˈka-shə-bəl How to pronounce cash (audio)
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

Synonyms of cash

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Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of cash in a Sentence

Noun (1) went to the ATM to get more cash Verb The store wouldn't cash the check. He cashed his paycheck at the bank.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Parking also costs $10 and is cash-only, according to the event’s website. — Camila Pedrosa july 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 The press release says in total Fleming stole about $450,000 in cash. — Mary Ella Hastings july 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Adjective
One-time non-cash effects in the fourth quarter had a positive impact. — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026 But the state’s anti-gambling laws prohibit cash prizes and limit non-cash winnings to items that have a wholesale value of less than $5. — John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
The landlords stopped cashing their checks, threatened them with eviction, and took them to housing court. — Olivia Bensimon, Curbed, 17 June 2026 Campbell and the other accomplice would hop from post office to post office to cash the money orders. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cash

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)

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1913, 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 1596

Phrases Containing cash

Rhymes for cash

See All Rhymes for cash

Browse Nearby Words

caseworm
cash
cash account
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cash. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cash

1 of 2 noun
ˈkash How to pronounce cash (audio)
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

Nglish: Translation of cash for Spanish Speakers

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