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
The streamer is coughing up some $150 million over the next three years for the rights to carry a total of nine sessions of baseball, a bare bones roster that includes the annual opener, the Field of Dream games formerly hosted by Fox and the Home Run Derby.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026
With Doval on a short leash, Blackburn entered and eventually coughed up the winning run.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Angels coughed up a 6-4 lead and took a 9-7 loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday that left them with a split of the four-game set in Houston.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
To avoid the lines, customers (including first-time private fliers) are now coughing up large sums to avoid TSA altogether, sometimes to the tune of $34,000, Bloomberg reported.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cough up
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026
With Doval on a short leash, Blackburn entered and eventually coughed up the winning run.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Angels coughed up a 6-4 lead and took a 9-7 loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday that left them with a split of the four-game set in Houston.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
To avoid the lines, customers (including first-time private fliers) are now coughing up large sums to avoid TSA altogether, sometimes to the tune of $34,000, Bloomberg reported.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cough up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cough up
Verb
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Min Aung Hlaing, who had attained the rank of senior general, last week relinquished his post of commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Mostly because this lesson required me to relinquish my take-home treats.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the 1960s, some planetary scientists proposed that craters at the south pole of the moon, where the angle of the sun is so shallow that parts of the interior of the craters' are rendered in permanent shadow, could be cold enough to host water-ice.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning frequently, until crisp and rendered, about 8 minutes.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, the facility agreed in 2025 to surrender its state license to sell dogs as part of a legal settlement tied to an animal cruelty investigation, Dane County officials said in March.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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That forces Edwards to surrender the ball, but allows his teammates to play 4-on-3 offense on the backside.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Crafted with better-for-you ingredients, Javvy's Instant Protein Coffee blend and viral Coffee Concentrate deliver guilt-free indulgence, offering craveable flavors without compromise.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Rousouli is equally essential to Titanique's success, delivering a Jack Dawson who balances matinee-idol charm and a smooth tenor with a fearless willingness to lean into the absurd.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cough%20up. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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