coughs; coughed; coughing
1
: to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick
She was coughing and sneezing all day.
The dust made him cough.
2
: to make a noise like that of coughing
The engine coughed and sputtered and then stopped.
plural coughs
1
: a physical condition or illness that causes someone to cough
He has a cough and a cold.
They both have bad coughs.
He has a terrible smoker's cough. [=a cough caused by smoking]
2
: an act of coughing or the sound made when someone coughs
I heard a cough from the back of the church.
He gave a cough [=he coughed] to get my attention.
dry/hacking coughs
Cite this Entry
“Cough.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cough. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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