as in relinquished
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 coughed up
There was nothing to smile about in Atlanta, the scene of the crime for a Knicks team that coughed up home-court advantage in Game 2, then fell into a 1-2 series deficit in its first-round playoff matchup in a crushing 109-108 loss to the Hawks on Thursday.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Denver held the Wolves to 105 points in a Game 1 win but coughed up a 19-point lead in Game 2.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Treinen gave up four consecutive hits in the seventh inning, failed to retire a batter and coughed up a Dodger lead.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Nike director Tim Cook and CEO Elliott Hill coughed up about $1 million each in another round of insider stock buying.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
McIlroy coughed up a six-shot lead in the third round.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 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
The Bruins coughed up a 2-0 first period lead to an also-ran New Jersey Devils and lost 4-3 in overtime.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Other local politicians have also coughed up remarkably few text messages in response to public records requests.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Denver held the Wolves to 105 points in a Game 1 win but coughed up a 19-point lead in Game 2.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Treinen gave up four consecutive hits in the seventh inning, failed to retire a batter and coughed up a Dodger lead.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Nike director Tim Cook and CEO Elliott Hill coughed up about $1 million each in another round of insider stock buying.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
McIlroy coughed up a six-shot lead in the third round.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 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
The Bruins coughed up a 2-0 first period lead to an also-ran New Jersey Devils and lost 4-3 in overtime.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Other local politicians have also coughed up remarkably few text messages in response to public records requests.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coughed up
Verb
-
The couple, who relinquished their medical licenses shortly after their daughter's death, have disputed Scott's claims and maintained their love for their daughter and granddaughter.—
Juliet Pennington,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Two years later, Unwell relinquished the rights to the show, and the departure seemed not to be amicable.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In three days time, Mary is to perform her first concert since a fall on stage that’s rendered more like a near suicide.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This allows for more action and more monsters — splendidly rendered — and more occasions for Eleven to use her superpowers.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Since when in 250 years has America surrendered democracy to one person, putting aside the law and the Constitution?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Chase Dollander surrendered one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings for Colorado after Jimmy Herget opened with a 1-2-3 first.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Though no one was killed in the Stryker attack, some surgeries had to be postponed, implants could not be delivered to patients, and the company’s share price plummeted.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
When delivered as intended, hospice remains one of the most compassionate and effective models of care in our healthcare system.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The internet’s onetime lovably messy provocateur has indeed turned over a new leaf, personally and professionally, and entered her Brand Safe era.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024, Russia turned over its pavilion to Bolivia instead of participating.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Campusano then turned in his first bit of heroics, lining a double to left field to tie the game.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Adebayo turned in one of his worst offensive performances of the season in Tuesday’s loss to the Raptors, finishing the defeat with just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field, 1-of-7 shooting on threes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Evenings can be entirely your own—cooking in-villa, lighting the pizza oven—or handed over to in-house chefs, with plans underway for visiting chefs and intimate supper clubs that draw on the Sunshine Coast’s flourishing farm-to-table scene.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Blindfolded once again, I was loaded into one vehicle, then transferred to another, and finally handed over to the official Iraqi-government forces, who took me to Baghdad’s Green Zone, where the president of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, was waiting for me.—
Shelly Kittleson,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coughed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coughed%20up. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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