cough
kof
Cough (verb) means to force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway. Example: “The dust made everyone in the room start to cough.”
verb
1
To force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway.
"The dust made everyone in the room start to cough."
"He coughed all night because of his cold."
"She coughed into her elbow to avoid spreading germs."
2
Informal, often "cough up": to hand over money or information reluctantly.
"Come on, cough up the money you borrowed from me!"
"He finally coughed up the cash he owed."
"After hours of questioning, the suspect coughed up the truth."
noun
1
The act or sound of coughing, or a condition that causes repeated coughing.
"I've had a dry cough for about a week now."
"A small cough from the back of the hall interrupted the speech."
"That cough sounds like it needs a doctor's attention."
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.
Common pairings
cough up the money
a nasty cough
cough and splutter
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Word forms
- Plural
- coughs
- Third person singular
- coughs
- Past tense
- coughed
- Archaic forms
- coughest, coughedst, cougheth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dust made everyone in the room start to _____.
Etymology
From Old English *cohhian, imitating the sound itself — a word that has sounded roughly the same for over a thousand years.
Synonyms
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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'.
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