noun

bank

BANGK

noun

A financial institution that holds deposits, lends money, and manages other financial services.

"I need to visit the bank to sort out my mortgage."

"She opened a savings account at the local bank."

The raised ground along the edge of a river, lake, or other body of water.

"They had a picnic on the bank of the river."

verb

To keep or deposit money at a financial institution.

"He banks with a small local credit union."

Of an aircraft or vehicle, to tilt to one side while turning.

"The plane banked sharply to avoid the storm."

How to Use Bank

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often a place that holds and lends money, but also the sloped edge of a river, or the act of a vehicle tilting into a turn.

Common mistake

"Bank on something" (meaning to rely on it) is a separate idiom from the financial sense — don't confuse the two.

Common pairings

bank on something bank account river bank bank sharply

Word Forms

banked past tense, banked past tense, banked past tense, banks plural, banks plural, banks plural, banks plural, Banks plural, banks singular, banks singular, banks singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “bank” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

I need to visit the _____ to sort out my mortgage.

Etymology

From Italian banca, "bench" or "counter" — early moneylenders in Italy conducted business at a bench in the marketplace, and the word carried over directly into English for the institution itself.

Rhymes for bank

dank tank rank yank Hank drank stank plank thank frank prank skank

See all rhymes for bank →