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
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Recent Examples of cough up
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
The relievers coughed up another lead in the ninth inning on Monday to add to the pressure.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Sherrod’s fumble ended a promising drive inside the USF 40, and redshirt freshman Sire Gaines coughed up the football on a running play at the USF 16 late in the second quarter, ending another good drive.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Each room coughs up its contents like a kid with consumption.
—Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cough up
Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The relievers coughed up another lead in the ninth inning on Monday to add to the pressure.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Sherrod’s fumble ended a promising drive inside the USF 40, and redshirt freshman Sire Gaines coughed up the football on a running play at the USF 16 late in the second quarter, ending another good drive.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Each room coughs up its contents like a kid with consumption.
—Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cough up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cough up
Verb
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Keeping the agreement with Norris in mind, McLaren intervened in the situation by asking Piastri to relinquish second place to Norris.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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In May 2025, Kraft Heinz announced a strategic review aimed at unlocking shareholder value, and Berkshire Hathaway relinquished its board seats, signaling potential structural changes.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This deepening also has an index in the formal features of his poetry—the ambiguity of his pronouns, the firm particularity of his register of images—which teeters between the mundane and the epiphanic, and renders this imbalance itself into view.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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When workers are used as invisible inputs in opaque AI systems that determine hiring, promotions and surveillance protocols, their autonomy can be eroded—and traditional labor rights rendered toothless.—
James Felton Keith,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
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Once Bailey reached home, the official completion of a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, Bailey surrendered himself to the moment.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first rapid prototype antenna was delivered in June 1998.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
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After 10 tumultuous years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kadri delivered his best campaign with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, posting 89 points in the regular season and finishing by hoisting the Stanley Cup.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cough%20up. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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