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 No, that part was, deGrom coughed up that first-inning grand slam and still came out of this as the winning pitcher. Jayson Stark, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Michael Mimoun, a thirty-nine-year-old from Brooklyn who works in property management, coughed up five hundred dollars to watch there with a group of family and friends, including two five-year-olds. Dan Greene, New Yorker, 20 June 2026 The mold could cause infections that may lead to coughing up blood in people with allergic reactions or certain lung diseases, as well as fever and other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 June 2026 Weathers has coughed up multiple homers in five of his 13 starts this season, but big flies have been particularly problematic for him over his last three games. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cough up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cough up
Verb
  • The Khosla family will be required to relinquish its ownership stake in the 49ers as part of the deal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Around 2021, this collector relinquished 34 objects (including the bronze Buddhas).
    Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Even for those in the financial ‘elite’ that Newcastle hope to join soon, vast transfer spending has rendered sales increasingly integral.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • New state-level AI laws face significant enforcement challenges, rendering many ineffective.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Residents who need to surrender pets or bring in stray animals will still be directed there.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • Pfeiffer’s willingness to surrender to the environment set the tone for the entire production.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Bloom also delivered Wilyer Abreu to the Red Sox in a 2022 deadline deal with the Houston Astros for popular catcher Christian Vázquez.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 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 21 Jul. 2026.

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