Definitions

cough up

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disburse v.
divulge v.
pay v.
puke v.
recompense v.
spend v.

VERB

disburse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contribute dispense distribute expend pony up

STRONG

acquit deal defray disperse divide give partition use

WEAK

ante up come across come through come up with divvy dole out foot the bill lay out measure out outlay pay out put out shell out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

hold keep take

STRONG

attach collect combine gather join unite

WEAK

deposit hoard retain save set aside

VERB

divulge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admit blab communicate disclose give away leak publish reveal uncover

STRONG

betray broadcast declare discover exhibit expose gossip impart mouth proclaim promulgate spill spring tattle tell

WEAK

blow the whistle fess up go public let hair down let slip open up own up spill the beans tip off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conceal cover hide keep suppress withhold

STRONG

protect

WEAK

secrete

VERB

pay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate disburse extend grant handle meet offer present refund reimburse repay settle

STRONG

adjust bequeath bestow clear confer defray discharge foot honor liquidate prepay proffer recompense recoup remit remunerate render requite reward satisfy stake

WEAK

bear the cost bear the expense chip in come through dig up foot the bill hand over kick in make payment plunk down put up take care of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny deprive hold penalize refuse take take back withhold

STRONG

confuse dishonor dissatisfy dissuade fail keep upset

WEAK

earn lose

VERB

puke

Synonyms

STRONG

barf gag heave hurl regurgitate retch spew upchuck

WEAK

be sick bring up chunder do the technicolor yawn get sick spit up throw up toss one's cookies

VERB

recompense

Synonyms

STRONG

atone balance comp compensate counterbalance counterpoise countervail equalize expiate fix grease indemnify offset overcompensate pay propitiate reciprocate recoup recover redress reimburse remunerate repay requite retaliate retrieve return reward satisfy square

WEAK

ante up atone for do business give satisfaction make amends make good make up for pay for put out spring for sweeten the pot swing for take care of

Antonyms

STRONG

deprive disproportion dissatisfy lose penalize refuse seize take worsen

VERB

spend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

allocate concentrate consume contribute donate drop employ expend give invest put in settle use waste

STRONG

absorb apply bestow blow confer defray deplete disburse dispense dissipate drain empty exhaust fritter lavish liquidate misspend squander

WEAK

ante up cast away come across come through evote foot the bill hand out lay out outlay pay down pay up run through shell out spring for throw away use up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build hold keep neglect save shun take take away withhold

STRONG

fill hoard set aside

WEAK

be lazy earn get receive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

cough up

Under intense US pressure to cough up more on security, Lai's government has vowed to increase defence spending to five percent of GDP by 2030.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

And when it feels like a company is, as you put it, holding your stuff for ransom, you may feel even more inclined to cough up whatever amount they insist you pay.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026

To secure membership, nations are expected to cough up $1 billion in dues.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026

However, it is unclear if the federal government will reimburse states for those payments, which often total millions each month, making some states reluctant to cough up their own funds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Syl’s face brighted up and he laughed so hard I thought he was gonna cough up a lung!

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis

cough up

Example Sentences

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