Word
Definition
n. the total amount of money you receive from selling something or holding a special event.
n. the total amount of money generated from a specific transaction, sale, or fundraising activity. Plural-only; often used with the preposition 'of'.
Examples
“The proceeds from the bake sale go to the local school.”
“All proceeds from the charity auction will be donated to the hospital to fund new medical equipment.”
“After the company liquidated its remaining assets, the net proceeds were distributed among the creditors according to the priority of their claims.”
Examples
simple
“The proceeds from the bake sale go to the local school.”
contextual
“All proceeds from the charity auction will be donated to the hospital to fund new medical equipment.”
complex
“After the company liquidated its remaining assets, the net proceeds were distributed among the creditors according to the priority of their claims.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “proceeds” in context.
Verb
01. divide the proceeds between the partners
“After the sale of the business, they had to divide the proceeds between the partners equally.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. donate the proceeds to charity
“The organizers decided to donate the proceeds to charity to support local food banks.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. generate proceeds from the auction
“The gala managed to generate proceeds from the auction that exceeded all expectations.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. ill-gotten proceeds
“The authorities worked tirelessly to seize the ill-gotten proceeds of the fraud scheme.”
adj + noun
05. net proceeds
“The net proceeds from the property sale were significantly lower after taxes and fees.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. proceeds of crime
“The new legislation makes it easier for the government to confiscate the proceeds of crime.”
noun + of + noun
07. proceeds of the sale
“She used the proceeds of the sale to pay off her remaining student loans.”
noun + of + noun
Usage
Always used in the plural form 'proceeds' when referring to money.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'profit'. While 'proceeds' can mean profit, it usually refers to the total amount of money collected before expenses are taken out.
Pitfall
The proceed from the auction was high.
The proceeds from the auction were high.
In this sense, the word is always plural and takes a plural verb.
Real-World Examples
“Participants are able to sell their work online with 50% of the proceeds going to the artist.” “And the folder contains a sheaf of paper that the man proceeds to read.” “Most of them are a bit naff.” He then proceeds to list the exceptions.” Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/proceeds
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0