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Definitions

cough

[kawf, kof] / kɔf, kɒf /
NOUN
expelled air with sound
Synonyms




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:

"It is truly exhausting," he says, describing how the relentless smoke has produced in him a shortness of breath, a persistent cough and an unshakeable pain in his eyes.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

The memo encouraged donors to cough up another $17 million over the next two weeks.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

Patients quickly develop a fever and headache and feel weak, and then rapidly progress to shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and sometimes bloody or watery mucus, according to the CDC.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Brussels says its rules are working since they have already forced AI providers to cough up information to regulators, though Regnier declined to give details.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

I cough and hold my cheek where it’s bleeding a little.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

"Even inside the house, the smoke gets in. Honestly, since the haze, my body aches, as if I've been beaten up. The immune system is down. I get coughs and colds easily."

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

“If you designed your Muse avatar or if you designed your Dot in the likeness of your pet, perhaps you would feel a little bit more forgiving if your pet coughs up a hairball, right?”

From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026

The measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

It had the power to soothe the roughest of sore throats and quiet the phlegmiest of coughs.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

My brother, who is usually oblivious to everything, coughs and wheezes, as if he is choking on something.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Early in his career, Scheffler coughed up the lead after 54 holes a number of times, including when leading Rory McIlroy by six shots at the Tour Championship in 2022.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Around 20,000 years ago, a cave was home to generations of owls that regularly coughed up pellets containing the bones of their prey.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026

I coughed over the sink, hardly able to get a breath, until I gagged and drooled into the drain.

From Slate ● Jun. 13, 2026

Even after he coughed up his lead in the third set, he attempted to spend some time recovering by tanking the fourth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

I coughed so hard that one of the servants had to escort me from the room to sit in the foyer with a glass of mint tea until I got ahold of myself.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

"I have young cousins, including babies, who are coughing too. It's really taking a toll on them."

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Homemaker Sifra, 29, said her husband and two children have been coughing for a month.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

“Or whatever the digital version of coughing up a hairball is.”

From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026

Respiratory droplets carrying the Yersinia bacteria are released through coughing or sneezing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Sandy is shaking each time he cries, whole body moving with every sob, hiccuping and coughing and all.

From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender


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