# Abe

/ˈeɪb/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abe
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. five-dollar bill

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang

a five-dollar bill in the United States.

For teachers: a five-dollar bill in US currency, so named because Abraham Lincoln's portrait appears on it.

- He reached into his pocket and pulled out an abe to pay for the coffee.
- The street performer was delighted when a passerby dropped an abe into his hat instead of the usual loose change.

Usage: Usually written with a capital 'A' as 'Abe'.

## Examples

- Can you lend me an abe for the vending machine?
- He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled abe to pay for the coffee.
- While the term is less common than 'fin' or 'fiver', some regional dialects still use 'abe' to refer specifically to the five-dollar denomination in casual transactions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.