cough up

Definition of cough upnext
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress finally got my brother to cough up the dough he owed me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cough up Symptoms can include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, hoarseness and chest pain. — Tori Mason, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 New York Yankees players paused the action to cover themselves in bug spray, but Joba Chamberlain succumbed to the elements and coughed up his club’s lead in the late innings. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 The Chargers coughed up another winnable home game, falling 26-14 to the Raiders — the same score as last week’s loss — as fourth-quarter breakdowns define Jim Harbaugh’s 0-2 start. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026 Any confusion, difficulty walking, shortness of breath or coughing up significant phlegm should prompt an immediate descent. — Elaine Reno, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cough up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cough up
Verb
  • She was only forced to relinquish the title when she was drafted to the Raw brand.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Moon, meanwhile, is struggling at school but on the precipice of adulthood; as the young woman begins to make her own decisions in life, Yue must relinquish a degree of maternal responsibility.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Musk reportedly ordered a slowdown of the military-grade Starlink service used by Ukraine, limiting the speeds at which connected hardware could travel and rendering some offensive and interceptor drones largely ineffective.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities confirmed that the water at the plant had not been chlorinated for about three weeks, rendering it unsafe for human consumption.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Garza was shot twice with less-lethal bean bag rounds but did not surrender.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Compassion doesn’t mean that presidents or other public officials should bow to enemies or surrender common sense in tackling the world’s harsh realities.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This is darkly poetic, a tragedy delivered like a nursery rhyme.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Advertisement The same technology that is delivering fortunes in Silicon Valley can also deliver help to the least fortunate.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cough%20up. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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