deposit

Money you pay first when buying something, before paying the rest.

• We paid a deposit today.
• The deposit was ten percent of the price.
• Can I buy this car with a small deposit?

How to use it: deposit on something (We paid a deposit on a new sofa.)

Similar words: down payment

Common phrases: pay a deposit, deposit on something

Money or valuable things placed in a bank to keep them safe.

• Your deposit will earn interest.
• She made a large deposit yesterday.
• Are the deposits in this account protected?

Common phrases: bank deposit, cash deposit, make a deposit

Money you leave when borrowing or renting something, which you get back if you return it undamaged.

• The bike rental requires a deposit.
• They returned my deposit when I brought back the tent.
• Will I lose my deposit if the camera breaks?

How to use it: deposit for something (You must leave a deposit for the borrowed tools.)

Similar words: security payment

Common phrases: refundable deposit, security deposit, deposit for something

A layer or amount of material left on a surface or in a place.

• A white deposit covered the pipe.
• The river left deposits of sand on the fields.
• They discovered a rich mineral deposit beneath the hill.

How to use it: deposit of something (A deposit of salt covered the rocks.)

Similar words: buildup, accumulation

Common phrases: mineral deposit, salt deposit, deposit of something

A layer or large amount of a natural substance found below a surface.

• The deposit contains iron.
• Workers discovered rich coal deposits underground.
• This rock formed above a thick deposit of sand.

How to use it: deposit of something (They found a deposit of copper beneath the hill.)

Similar words: layer

Common phrases: mineral deposit, coal deposit, deposit of something

To put money into a bank account.

• I deposit money every month.
• She deposited the cheque yesterday.
• Can you deposit cash at this machine?

How to use it: deposit something in/into something (I deposit my earnings into my savings account.)

Similar words: pay in

Opposites: withdraw

Common phrases: deposit money, deposit a cheque

To put something down in a particular place.

• He deposited his bag on the floor.
• Floodwater deposits sand along the river.
• Please deposit the package beside the door.

How to use it: deposit something in/on something (The bird deposits its eggs in a shallow nest.)

Similar words: put, place, lay

Common phrases: deposit something here, deposit eggs

To put a coin or banknote into a machine to pay for something.

• Deposit a coin to start the machine.
• He deposited two notes and chose a drink.
• How much money must I deposit for a ticket?

How to use it: deposit something in/into something (Deposit a coin into the slot to buy a ticket.)

Similar words: insert, put in

Common phrases: deposit a coin, deposit a note