income
IHN-kuhm
Income (noun) means Money received regularly, especially from work, business, or investments. Example: “Their only source of income is a small shop in the village.”
noun
1
Money received regularly, especially from work, business, or investments.
"Their only source of income is a small shop in the village."
"Her monthly income barely covers the rent."
"The couple's combined income qualifies them for the mortgage."
How to use income
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoney you earn or receive on an ongoing basis.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
annual income
household income
income tax
disposable income
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Word forms
- Plural
- incomes
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Their only source of _____ is a small shop in the village.
Etymology
From Old English incyme, "an in-coming, an entrance," built from in- + come — the word originally described anything flowing in, before narrowing to money.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for income
See all rhymes for income →Frequently asked questions
What does “income” mean?
The word “income” means money received regularly, especially from work, business, or investments. In plain terms, money you earn or receive on an ongoing basis.
How do you pronounce “income”?
“Income” is pronounced IHN-kuhm (/ˈɪnˌkʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “income” in a sentence?
Here is “income” used in a sentence: “Her monthly income barely covers the rent.”
What is the opposite of “income”?
The opposite of “income” — its antonyms — is outgo.
What part of speech is “income”?
“Income” is a noun.
Where does the word “income” come from?
The word “income” comes from Old English. From Old English incyme, "an in-coming, an entrance," built from in- + come — the word originally described anything flowing in, before narrowing to money.
Is “income” a common word?
“Income” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between income and revenue?
For a business, revenue is the total money coming in from sales before any costs are taken out, while income usually means what is left after expenses — the profit. For an individual, income simply means earnings from work or investments. So all revenue is income of a sort, but income often implies the net figure.
What is the difference between gross and net income?
Gross income is the full amount you receive before any deductions — your headline salary or total earnings. Net income is what actually reaches you after tax, pension and other deductions are removed. Net is always the smaller, 'take-home' figure, and it is the one that reflects real spending power.
What are the main types of income?
Income generally falls into a few groups: earned income from a job or self-employment, business or trading profits, and investment income such as interest, dividends and rent. Some also separate out 'passive' income, which keeps arriving with little ongoing work, like royalties or money from property.
What is the opposite of income?
The opposite is money going out rather than coming in — 'expenditure,' 'expenses' or 'outgoings.' In business accounts, income is set against 'costs' or 'outlay,' and the gap between the two is your profit or loss. On a personal budget, outgoings are simply everything you spend.
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