cough
Cough (verb) means to force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway. Example: “He coughed all night because of his cold.”
How to Use Cough
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo push air out of your throat loudly (often when sick) — or, informally, to reluctantly give up money or a secret.
Word Forms
coughed past tense, cough plural, coughed plural, coughs plural, coughs singular, cough singular, coughed singular, coughest singular, coughedst singular, cougheth singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ all night because of his cold.
Etymology
From Old English *cohhian, imitating the sound itself — a word that has sounded roughly the same for over a thousand years.
Related Words
Rhymes for cough
See all rhymes for cough →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “cough” mean?
The word “cough” means to force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway. In plain terms, to push air out of your throat loudly (often when sick) — or, informally, to reluctantly give up money or a secret.
How do you pronounce “cough”?
“Cough” is pronounced kof (/kɔf/ in IPA).
How do you use “cough” in a sentence?
Here is “cough” used in a sentence: “He coughed all night because of his cold.”
What part of speech is “cough”?
Depending on how it is used, “cough” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “cough” come from?
The word “cough” comes from Old English. From Old English *cohhian, imitating the sound itself — a word that has sounded roughly the same for over a thousand years.
Is “cough” a common word?
“Cough” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “cough” have?
“Cough” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway.
What is the difference between a cough and a sneeze?
A cough forces air out of the lungs and through the mouth, usually to clear the throat or airway. A sneeze expels air chiefly through the nose and is a reflex triggered by irritation in the nasal passages, so the two involve different pathways.
What is the difference between a dry cough and a chesty cough?
A dry cough produces no mucus and often feels tickly or scratchy. A chesty or productive cough brings up phlegm from the airways, which is why it is described as 'wet' or 'productive'.
When is 'cough up' used in informal English?
'Cough up' is an informal phrasal verb meaning to hand over money or information reluctantly, as in 'he finally coughed up the rent'. It can also be literal, meaning to expel something from the throat by coughing.
What are common collocations with cough?
Frequent phrases include 'coughing fit', 'persistent cough', 'dry cough', and 'whooping cough', a specific contagious illness. The verb often appears as 'cough up' or 'cough loudly'.