coughing up

verb

present participle of cough up
as in relinquishing
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 coughing up Nola has surrendered 23 home runs in 20 starts, coughing up multiple homers in five of his last seven turns, and ceding one in one of the outlier contests. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Common symptoms include coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood, weakness or fatigue, and fevers. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 14 July 2026 Of course, coughing up draft picks like that, should things go sideways, is a real gamble. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 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 Causes of death and identification of the deceased Busch collapsed Wednesday while testing in a Chevrolet simulator, prompting a 911 call describing shortness of breath, high fever and coughing up blood. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 Busch was coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath on Wednesday while getting ready for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 24 May 2026 The moment is reminiscent of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) coughing up that leftover Demogorgon tentacle after he’s been rescued at the end of Stranger Things Season 1. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 May 2026 Symptoms of a blood clot include swelling, shortness of breath, coughing up blood and varicose vein changes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coughing up
  1. relinquishing
  2. rendering
  3. turning in
  4. giving up
  5. surrendering
  6. turning over
  7. handing over
  8. delivering
Verb
  • For Harrison, the collaboration also meant relinquishing some control.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 22 July 2026
  • Clearly, the Flyers are comfortable with relinquishing first-round picks in their next four drafts as there is more value in having a true 1C in Carlsson.
    — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of relinquishing
Verb
  • Simultaneously rendering the past less remote while relishing its radical foreignness, Beard presses readers to grapple with alien ideas, reckon with gaps in their knowledge, and confront complexity.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • New state-level AI laws face significant enforcement challenges, rendering many ineffective.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of rendering
Verb
  • Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson played similar roles on Visma, with Kuss in particular turning in another strong supporting performance, metronomic in the high mountains.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • Before turning in for the night, check out Aquavia Lumina, an immersive canyon walk involving lights, projections, and storytelling.
    — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026
Definition of turning in
Verb
  • When some people around us think that unification [with China] would be fine, that means giving up a pursuit that has lasted more than a hundred years.
    — Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 29 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Kara shared that her mother, an original cast member on RHOC, isn’t giving up.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of giving up
Verb
  • San Jose had just earned its first win at Portland since 2011, extending its best start in club history, while Orlando came in after surrendering six goals in its previous league match.
    — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • The agency extends its reach without surrendering control — the condition on which any serious government adoption depends.
    — Derek Williams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of surrendering
Verb
  • Burbank has objected to turning over mixed-use lanes to the BRT, saying the regular traffic will back-up or spill over into nearby neighborhoods.
    — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 20 July 2026
  • Kushner said the utility had cooperated with the investigation, turning over data and making PG&E staff available for interviews.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of turning over
Verb
  • The new manager solved the Bang Records problem by walking into a Ninth Avenue warehouse and handing over $20,000 in cash to two mobsters dressed to the nines.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Her parents weren’t so sure and convinced her to fly out to see the place in person before handing over any cash.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 21 July 2026
Definition of handing over
Verb
  • The truck driver who hit the West Markham Street pedestrian bridge July 13 had left part of the truck raised after delivering a dumpster nearby, Little Rock police concluded.
    — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2026
  • That’s one step in delivering the value people expect and deserve from higher education.
    — Jamie Merisotis, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of delivering

Browse Nearby Words

coughed up
coughing up
coughs up
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Cite this Entry

“Coughing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coughing%20up. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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