proceeds

proceeds — noun

1. the sum of money that is earned from selling something or from holding a special

1.nounB2
Definition

the sum of money that is earned from selling something or from holding a special event, such as a concert or a charity sale

Example

Minho donated all the proceeds from his art show to the local hospital.

donate proceeds to [cause/recipient]

The proceeds from the charity run will help pay for a new classroom.

proceeds from [event] + purpose clause

Common collocations
  • donate the proceeds
  • the proceeds go to
  • all proceeds benefit
  • the net proceeds
  • the gross proceeds
  • proceeds from the sale
  • proceeds of the auction
Synonyms
  • earnings

    broader term that includes salary and investment returns; not limited to one-off events

  • revenue

    formal term used for regular business income, not typically for charity events

  • takings

    informal, typically refers to money a shop or business receives in a day

Antonyms
  • costs

    money spent to run an event or produce goods

  • expenses

    money paid out for business or activity costs

Grammar Patterns

the proceeds of [event/activity]

the proceeds from [sale/event]

Usage Note

Always plural — 'proceeds' takes a plural verb (e.g., 'The proceeds are…'), not a singular one. Commonly followed by the prepositions 'from' (indicating the source) or 'of' (indicating the activity or sale).

Common Mistakes

The proceed from the sale was given to charity.
The proceeds from the sale were given to charity.
'proceeds' is always plural and must be followed by a plural verb.
All proceed will be donated.
All proceeds will be donated.
the word has no singular form in this sense; always use 'proceeds'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe money received, but they differ in scope and context. 'Proceeds' is tied to a specific event or transaction — the money that comes in from a single sale, concert, or fundraiser. 'Revenue' is broader and more formal, used for a company's total income from its business activities over a period. 'Earnings' includes money from work or investments and is often linked to personal effort rather than a one-off event. 'Takings' is informal and refers only to money taken by a shop or business on a particular day or occasion. For example: 'The proceeds from the bake sale paid for new books.' 'The company's quarterly revenue grew by ten percent.' 'His earnings from freelance work have been steady.' 'The shop's day's takings were stolen overnight.'

proceeds ↗revenue ↗earnings ↗takings

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the net proceeds
  • the gross proceeds

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'proceeds' comes from the verb 'proceed', which entered English from Old French 'proceder', itself from Latin 'procedere' — a combination of 'pro-' (forward) and 'cedere' (to go). The noun form developed in the 1600s and originally meant 'things that come forth or result from something'. Over time the meaning narrowed to 'the money that comes in as a result of a sale or event'.