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
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Recent Examples of coughing up
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
Tehran had already moved to start charging ships transiting the strait in recent weeks, with at least one vessel coughing up $2 million to do so, according to shipping intelligence firm Lloyd’s List.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
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
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
Minnesota didn’t cower when backed into a corner Wednesday after coughing up an 11 point lead with fewer than four minutes to play in the final frame.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Then, Nolan’s parents put his fighting skills to the test with a brutal beatdown, but things quickly take a turn as Viltrumites around the planet start coughing up blood.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
That game featured the Stars coughing up a late lead thanks to a Valeri Nichuskin goal with 14 seconds left in regulation.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
On the flipside, Wisconsin escaped the first half without coughing up the ball once and finished the game with three turnovers, which the Terps converted to only three points.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Tehran had already moved to start charging ships transiting the strait in recent weeks, with at least one vessel coughing up $2 million to do so, according to shipping intelligence firm Lloyd’s List.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
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
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
Minnesota didn’t cower when backed into a corner Wednesday after coughing up an 11 point lead with fewer than four minutes to play in the final frame.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Then, Nolan’s parents put his fighting skills to the test with a brutal beatdown, but things quickly take a turn as Viltrumites around the planet start coughing up blood.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
That game featured the Stars coughing up a late lead thanks to a Valeri Nichuskin goal with 14 seconds left in regulation.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
On the flipside, Wisconsin escaped the first half without coughing up the ball once and finished the game with three turnovers, which the Terps converted to only three points.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coughing up
Verb
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And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
-
The Monarchs went 8-1 in league play before relinquishing the district title.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Braves wound up in last place that season, and Schuerholz arrived in October as the Braves’ new GM, rendering Cox a full-time manager again.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
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Instead, the interstellar medium is dominated by gas, and mostly hydrogen gas at that, but in the warmer, more diffuse regions of space, that gas becomes ionized, rendering it into a plasma.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Luke Cook and Leighton Meester are turning in their badges at the end of the first and only season of The CW’s Good Cop/Bad Cop.—
Alyssa Modos,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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Sheehan responded by turning in his best performance of the season, but the bullpen faltered in the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss to the red-hot Cubs, who won their 10th in a row.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Ducks fell into a not-so-old habit, giving up a goal on the first shot of the game, this time just 66 seconds into the match.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
-
Blanco, meanwhile, also earned the pitching victory, striking out three and giving up four hits in three innings.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Following a brief standoff, Puscasu was taken into custody after surrendering to police.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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This spring, the Japanese art of surrendering to the chef’s hand is experiencing a renaissance in W1.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
Verb
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What was His message in turning over the tables, besides showing His rudeness?—
John Kenney,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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Ted Soqui / Pool via Getty Images Prosecutors noted that protocol prevents them from turning over the sensitive images, but that defense attorneys can view the data at a clean computer in the justice center.—
Madeline Morrison,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Similarly, the possibility of handing over a large sum of money to an insurer and then dying soon afterward with little to show for it is often a large behavioral hurdle for people, said Zach Teutsch, founder of Values Added Financial in Washington.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
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Closure is something Shaw spent much of her life searching for after the trauma of handing over her newborn as a 16-year-old in 1991.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From early development to creative execution, this panel offers insight into how original ideas are brought to life across studios and continents, delivering fresh voices, distinct visual styles, and boundary-pushing humor for global audiences.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Douglas County Sheriff's Office Investigators said the driver fell asleep behind the wheel while delivering packages.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coughing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coughing%20up. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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