- the money that a person, a region, a country, etc. earns from work, from investing money, from business, etc.
- Average household income fell slightly.
- a weekly disposable income (= the money that you have left to spend after tax, etc.) of £400
- His parents have a combined annual income of less than $85 000.
- Net income for the year was $43m.
- a rise in national income
- Trying to earn an income as an artist can be hard.
- Some low-paid workers supplement their income with second jobs.
- Tourism generates income for the local economy.
- on an income These tax changes should help people on low incomes.
- New figures show a drop in income for the newly retired.
- income from something They lived on the rental income from the property.
- They receive a proportion of their income from the sale of goods and services.
- Tourism is a major source of income for the area.
- Both higher- and lower-income groups will be paying more tax from next year.
Synonyms incomeincomewage/wages ▪ pay ▪ salary ▪ earningsThese are all words for money that a person earns or receives for their work.income money that a person receives for their work, or from investments or business:- people on low incomes
- a weekly wage of £400
- The job offers good rates of pay.
- a rise in average earnings for factory workers
- (a) high/low/basic income/wage/pay/salary/earnings
- to earn an income/a wage/your pay/a salary
- to be on a(n) income/wage/salary of…
Collocations FinanceFinanceIncome- earn money/cash/(informal) a fortune/the minimum wage/a living wage
- make money/a fortune/(informal) a killing on the stock market
- acquire/inherit/amass wealth/a fortune
- build up funds/savings
- get/receive/leave (somebody) an inheritance/a legacy
- live on a low wage/a fixed income/a pension
- get/receive/draw/collect a pension
- depend/be dependent on (British English) benefits/(North American English) welfare/social security
- spend money/your savings/(informal) a fortune on…
- invest/put your savings in…
- throw away/waste/ (informal) shell out money on…
- lose your money/inheritance/pension
- use up/ (informal) wipe out all your savings
- pay (in) cash
- use/pay by a credit/debit/contactless card
- pay by/make out a/write somebody a/accept a (British English) cheque/(US English) check
- change/exchange money/currency
- give/pay/leave (somebody) a deposit
- have/hold/open/close/freeze a bank account/an account
- credit/debit/pay something into/take money out of your account
- deposit money/funds in your account
- withdraw money/cash/£30 from an ATM, etc.
- (formal) make a deposit/withdrawal
- find/go to/use (especially North American English) an ATM/(British English) a cash machine/dispenser
- be in credit/in debit/in the black/in the red/overdrawn
- use a mobile/an online banking app/platform/service
- manage/handle/plan/run/ (especially British English) sort out your finances
- plan/manage/work out/stick to a budget
- offer/extend credit (to somebody)
- arrange/take out a loan/an overdraft
- pay back/repay money/a loan/a debt
- pay for something in (especially British English) instalments/(North American English usually) installments
- get into debt/financial difficulties
- be short of/ (informal) be strapped for cash
- run out of/owe money
- face/get/ (informal) be landed with a bill for £…
- can’t afford the cost of…/payments/rent
- fall behind with/ (especially North American English) fall behind on the mortgage/repayments/rent
- incur/run up/accumulate debts
- tackle/reduce/settle your debts
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb2, Businessb2- A large number of families in the area are living on below-average incomes.
- Some farmers increased their income fivefold.
- A lot of our income comes from bank interest.
- Average incomes are rising more slowly.
- Every company must keep control of its income and expenditure.
- Financial assets have the advantage of earning income.
- For 2023, expenditure exceeded income by £10 000.
- He has a large private income on top of what he earns as a teacher.
- She planned to buy two more properties so she could live off the rental income.
- Many families on a low income are dependent on state support.
- Operating income rose 14% to £36.5 million.
- She received an income for life as a result of her father's will.
- He supplements his income by doing an evening job.
- She was living on a small, fixed income and having trouble paying her bills.
- Social security guarantees an income to retired and disabled workers.
- The income gap between rich and poor is growing.
- The industry claims the regulations have cost them $184 million in lost income.
- a young couple with a combined income of $69 000
- She is definitely in the higher income bracket.
- The company has an income of around $10 million a year.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- large
- six-figure
- …
- have
- receive
- earn
- …
- arise (from something)
- come from something
- derive from something
- …
- bracket
- group
- level
- …
- on an income
- income from
- the distribution of income
- the redistribution of income
- a drop in income
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘entrance, arrival’, now only Scots): in early use from Old Norse innkoma, later from in + come. The current sense dates from the late 16th cent.Want to learn more?
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income