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 Ravens coughed up a 40-25 fourth-quarter lead. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 After Henry coughed up the ball, the Bills capitalized, with Allen scoring on a 1-yard run. Associated Press, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 Then, cornerback Kenny Moore II got a strip sack that saw Tagovailoa once again cough up the ball — this time to former Dolphin Xavien Howard. Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 Not everyone infected with TB gets symptoms, but those with active cases can suffer from a persistent cough, including coughing up blood or sputum, chest pain, fever, and fatigue. Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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