income
IN-kum/ˈɪnˌkʌm/
Pluralincomes
- 1Money that a person or group gets, for example from a job, a business or savings.
Like water flowing into a bucket: it's the money coming to you.
Her income from the bakery pays the rent.
He saves part of his income every month.
UsageYou earn an income, get income from a job, and some families live on a low income.
- 2A person who has just arrived or moved into a place.
Note
- 3Inspiration flowing into someone, or a quality such as courage or enthusiasm that it brings.
I would then make in indeed and steep / My income in their bloods.
[1611?], Homer, The Iliads of Homer Prince of PoetsHere, income means a sudden rush of fierce feeling or spirit.Note
Less common meanings
- 4An act of coming in or arriving somewhere.
Pain payes the income of ech precious thing,
1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto)Here, income means coming in, the arrival of something.more abundant incomes of light and strength from God
1667, George Rust, A Funeral SermonHere, incomes means arrivals, things coming in from God.Note
- 5A fee you pay to enter or join something.
Note
- 6Food taken into the body, sometimes meaning only the part that nourishes you or that your body can digest.
- 7A sickness that starts on its own, with no clear cause.
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Origin
From Middle English income. It may come from an Old English word incyme meaning "an in-coming" or "entrance," made from in- and come.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Income comes from Middle English income. kaikki.org
- Income may derive from Old English incyme, meaning an in-coming or entrance. kaikki.org
- The formation corresponds to in- and come. kaikki.org