bank
bank
Pronunciation
Bank: /bæŋk/
bank:
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bank
Plural Noun: banks
Verb (base form): bank
Verb (third-person singular present): banks
Verb (present participle): banking
Verb (past tense/past participle): banked
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A financial institution where individuals and businesses can deposit and withdraw money, obtain loans, and conduct various other financial transactions.
Synonyms: financial institution, credit union, savings and loan, treasury
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a financial institution, as it describes a type of entity)
Definition 2: The sloping ground, especially alongside a river or lake, that forms the edge of a body of water.
Synonyms: shore, riverside, waterside, embankment, levee, bund
Antonyms: midstream, open water
Definition 3: A long, raised mass or mound of something, such as snow, clouds, or earth.
Synonyms: mound, heap, pile, drift, mass, ridge
Antonyms: hollow, depression, trough
Definition 4: A row or series of similar things, typically side by side.
Synonyms: row, line, series, array, group, cluster
Antonyms: disarray, jumble, scattered elements
Verb
Definition 1: To deposit money or assets into a financial institution.
Synonyms: deposit, save, lodge, place
Antonyms: withdraw, remove, extract
Definition 2: To border or be situated on a bank (of a river, lake, etc.).
Synonyms: border, edge, line, abut, adjoin
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a positional relationship)
Definition 3: (Of an aircraft or vehicle) to tilt or cause to tilt sideways when turning.
Synonyms: tilt, lean, cant, list, incline
Antonyms: level, straighten
Definition 4: To form a bank or heap of something, especially snow or earth.
Synonyms: heap, pile, stack, mound, amass
Antonyms: disperse, spread, scatter, dissipate
Examples of Use
Books:
"They found a quiet spot on the bank of the river, the water gently lapping at the reeds." (From Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens)
"His first action upon arriving in the city was to open a new account at the local bank." (From The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)
Newspapers:
"The central bank announced a significant interest rate hike to combat rising inflation." (Source: The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2025)
"Authorities continue to search the river bank for clues after the mysterious disappearance." (Source: The Daily Nation, June 29, 2025)
Online Publications:
"How to Choose the Right Online Bank for Your Financial Needs." (Source: Forbes.com, June 27, 2025)
"The storm left a large bank of snow across the mountain pass, making travel impossible." (Source: AccuWeather.com, January 15, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "We need to bank hard left to avoid that asteroid field!" (Dialogue from Star Wars: A New Hope)
Television Series: "He was a con artist who specialized in robbing small-town banks." (From Ozark, Season 2, Episode 5)
Video Games: "Player 1, you need to bank the ball off the wall to hit the target." (Instruction in a game of virtual billiards, Pool Nation VR)
Music: "I've got money in the bank, and love in my heart." (Lyrics from a contemporary pop song, artist unknown, but common theme)
Podcasts: "Our guest today is an expert in ethical investing and will discuss how to choose a socially responsible bank." (From The Sustainable Living Podcast, Episode 123)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to go to the bank to deposit my paycheck." (Common everyday conversation)
"Let's have a picnic down by the river bank this weekend." (Casual suggestion among friends)
"The pilot had to bank sharply to avoid the sudden turbulence." (Description of an aviation maneuver)
"There's a huge bank of clouds on the horizon, looks like rain." (Observation of weather)
"Can you please bank these coins for me at the end of the day?" (Request in a retail setting)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bank
"A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain." (Robert Frost)
"The atom bomb was no 'great equalizer.' It was a bank for the rich to get richer." (Unknown, often attributed to counter-culture figures)
"I believe that if you want to get rich, you need to own your own bank." (Donald Trump, in various interviews and writings)
"Knowledge is the only bank where we can deposit our all." (Unknown, common inspirational saying)
"A man should keep his friendships in constant repair." (Samuel Johnson - Metaphorical use of 'bank' in the sense of 'keeping accounts' or 'investing' in relationships, though the word itself is not present, the concept is similar to banking on relationships)
"You don't have to bank on luck; you can bank on work." (Unknown, a motivational adage)
"I have no doubt that we will emerge from this crisis stronger, but it will require courage and a willingness to bank on the future." (Christine Lagarde, on the global economy)
"My father used to say, 'Never bank on a promise, bank on a performance.'" (Lesser-known, but common advice from parents/mentors)
"The river does not change its bank, but it does flow." (LOriginal quote, reflecting on stability amidst change)
"Every day is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we've got 24 hours each." (Christopher Rice)
Etymology
The word "bank" actually has a fascinating history because it comes from two different but related origins, which explains why it has meanings that seem so different (like a financial institution and the edge of a river).
1. Bank (Financial Institution):
Origin: This meaning of "bank" comes to English from the Italian word "banca," which literally meant "bench" or "table."
First Known Use & Meaning: In medieval Italy (around the 12th-15th centuries), money changers and moneylenders would conduct their business sitting at a long bench or table in public places. This "banca" was their shop or counter where they would display their coins and exchange money. So, the "bank" was initially the furniture where financial transactions happened. Over time, the word evolved to mean the place or institution where these activities occurred, and by the late 15th century, it was being used in English to refer to a money-dealer's counter or shop.
2. Bank (River Edge, Mound):
Origin: This meaning comes from a different, but related, Germanic root, specifically from Old Norse "banki" or Old Danish "banke," meaning "sandbank" or "slope." It's related to the word "bench," which is also referred to as a raised surface.
First Known Use & Meaning: This sense of "bank" appeared in English around the 12th century, referring to a natural earthen incline or elevated ground, particularly bordering a body of water. So, the "bank" was originally the sloping land along a river or lake. It also extended to mean a long, raised mass of something, like a "bank of snow" or "cloud bank."
In simple terms:
Imagine someone in medieval Italy sitting at a bench (banca) to exchange money – that's how we got "bank" for money.
Now, imagine a natural slope or raised piece of land next to a river – that's the other root of "bank."
While they seem distinct, both ideas trace back to ancient Germanic words related to "raised surfaces" or "benches," showing a subtle connection in their very distant past!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bank
Bank on something/someone: To rely confidently on something or someone.
To break the bank: To spend all of one's money; to be very expensive.
To laugh all the way to the bank: To earn a lot of money easily, especially when others doubt your methods or success.
Bank holiday: A public holiday when banks and most other businesses are closed.
To bank up: To pile up or accumulate, often referring to snow or clouds.
To bank the fires: To put fuel on a fire to make it burn slowly and last longer. (Lesser-known, but refers to managing a fire's "resources")
A blood bank: A place where blood is collected, stored, and distributed for transfusions.
To bank a turn: (Aviation/Driving) To tilt an aircraft or vehicle sideways while turning.
Memory bank: A metaphorical place in the mind where memories are stored.
A piggy bank: A small container, often shaped like a pig, used by children to save coins.
To bank a profit: To secure or realize a profit.
To bank a shot: (Sports, e.g., billiards, basketball) To hit a ball off a surface (like a cushion or backboard) before it goes into the target.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bank from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
