How to Use common cold in a Sentence

common cold

noun
Definition of common coldnext
  • But other coronaviruses, like ones that cause the common cold, might give us clues.
    — Holly Yan, CNN, 9 Mar. 2020
  • Medical researchers have been seeking out a cure for the common cold for nearly 70 years, all to no avail.
    — Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 11 Mar. 2020
  • Each new common cold brings a high risk of infections and irreversible damage to children’s fragile lungs.
    — Boomer Esiason and Mary Vought, Cincinnati.com, 20 Mar. 2020
  • Like the common cold, covid-19 spreads through virus-laden droplets of moisture released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or merely exhales.
    — The Economist, 19 Mar. 2020
  • As with the common cold, there is no specific treatment for HMPV and no vaccine.
    — Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
  • There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold.
    — Cara Rosenbloom, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2020
  • In humans, coronaviruses cause a range of upper respiratory problems, from the common cold to more-severe illnesses.
    — Catherine Marfin, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2020
  • Editor’s note: The common cold is an upper respiratory infection, pneumonia is lower, and flu can be both upper and lower.
    — Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 6 Mar. 2020
  • The research was conducted before the covid-19 virus and probably refers to coronavirus that causes the common coldThere’s also a myth that sesame oil nasal spray can combat the virus.
    — Cara Rosenbloom, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2020
  • For many, the bacterial infection starts with symptoms similar to the common cold — a runny nose, sneezing, a low-grade fever and a tickly cough — but a painful, full-body cough can develop after a week or two.
    — Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
  • That’s been done with some of the viruses that cause the common cold.
    — Joanne Silberner, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2020
  • The flu and common cold were the most prevalent viruses found in the bins back in 2016.
    — Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 3 Sep. 2024
  • The common cold is an infection of the nose and throat.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2024
  • For the most part the latest version of the virus is more like a mild flu or a common cold.
    — Carl Weiser, The Enquirer, 19 Jan. 2022
  • The onset of symptoms can look a lot like the common cold.
    — Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024
  • How is one to know if an illness is the common cold with cough for weeks or the virus?!
    — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 2 Oct. 2021
  • But it’s not just a matter of taking off for the common cold.
    — Malaika Jabali, Essence, 2 Dec. 2022
  • But people who say it’s like the common cold -- it’s not.
    — Mike Anthony, courant.com, 3 Dec. 2020
  • The research on zinc's effect on the common cold has been mixed.
    — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 19 May 2024
  • Sometimes a common cold virus, like rhinovirus, is in the mix.
    — Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
  • And more than 200 viruses (!) can cause the common cold, according to the CDC.
    — Emily Shiffer, Women's Health, 27 Jan. 2023
  • And the Omicron variant can’t be equated with the common cold.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2021
  • The Cleveland Clinic says the common cold lasts seven to 10 days: Days 1 to 3: This is the early stages of the cold.
    — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2023
  • This goes for the common cold, the flu and viruses that could be life-threatening.
    — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 31 Oct. 2022
  • Well, the common cold is caused by a mild strain of coronavirus.
    — Avik Roy, National Review, 2 Apr. 2020
  • In fact, one study found that zinc lozenges were able to reduce the duration of the common cold by 33%.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
  • They have been used for cholera, typhoid, malaria, and even the common cold.
    — Mick Krever, Phil Black and Cristiana Moisescu, CNN, 12 Oct. 2020
  • Is a mild case of the coronavirus similar to a mild case of the common cold?
    — Laura Johnston, cleveland, 13 July 2020
  • That included the delta and omicron variants and the common cold virus.
    — Meredith Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2022
  • Even a mild bout of the common cold could lead to people feeling exhausted.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'common cold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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