A cash gift can be a check, bank wire, Venmo deposit, Visa gift card, etc. Money or an asset was given to you with no expectation of receiving anything for it.
The giver is responsible for any tax - not the recipient.
I agree with Carl that each state has its own laws. The divorce decree may state what it considered alimony vs what is income. There could be an argument that the extra income outside of the decree was a gift- which is limited to $16,000 per person for 2022. If you have children, it can be extended to them.
Perhaps the sale of the house was in lieu of retirement income or something else, there are way too many unknowns here.
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