cough up

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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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 cough up Most importantly, the rookie only turned the ball over once after coughing up seven turnovers in his debut Friday. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025 There are also reports of skin irritation and burning after injection, and, after smoking, throat irritation, coughing, and coughing up blood. ArsTechnica, 10 July 2025 He's owed the remainder of his $8 million club option this year before hitting free agency, so San Diego would not have to cough up much to get the deal done. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025 The tech entrepreneur first coughed up $500,000 in 2004 for a 10% stake in the company, just months into its creation—giving it a value of about $4.9 million. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cough up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cough up
Verb
  • The program was created in 2010 by the La Jolla Community Foundation and subsequently was relinquished to the oversight of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • Expensive, but necessary The Magic went hard after Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies, and had to relinquish a package that included four first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap to get him.
    Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • These players were away for several days at the time when the burglaries occurred, rendering their places more vulnerable.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2025
  • What these technologies that could open up the world, and the imagination, do instead is render their children ever smaller.
    Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • The stamp — which features a detailed image of the British troops surrendering — caught Bob Chisholm’s eye and started his love of stamp collecting.
    Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Twins’ offense had few answers for Boston starter Lucas Giolito, who pitched six innings and surrendered one run on Lee’s double to bring home Bader.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Seibert’s sage-but-kooky bird (stunningly costumed by Shelby Newport in a fabulous cloak of multicolored neckties, sort of like a bohemian bagman) delivers both great laughs and deep feeling.
    Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 30 July 2025
  • This one is peachy-pink in color, dry and fresh and delivers a tart red-fruit profile: think currants and pomegranate.
    Lana Bortolot, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cough%20up. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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