cough up

verb

coughed up; coughing up; coughs up

transitive verb

1
: hand over, deliver
cough up the money
2
: to lose possession of (a ball or puck) during a game
the quarterback coughed up the ball

Examples of cough up in a Sentence

finally got my brother to cough up the dough he owed me
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The real difference in Edmonton is their commitment to team defense and steadier goaltending, which has only coughed up 1.90 GA/60. The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 31 May 2025 In return, opposing offenses start their possessions later in the shot clock and at times cough up the ball, which leads to points on the other end. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025 Symptoms range from fever and chest pain to shortness of breath and coughing up blood. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2025 Williams entered the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead, a situation in which the Yankees held a 72 percent win expectancy, and proceeded to allow a single, a hit batsman, and a two-run double to cough up the lead. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cough up

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cough up was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cough%20up. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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