# cough

/ˈkɑf/ (US) · /kˈɒf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cough
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the sound or action

noun · CEFR A2

the sudden, loud noise you make when air is forced out of your throat.

For teachers: a sudden, involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, typically resulting from irritation of the respiratory tract.

- He gave a loud cough to get the teacher's attention in the quiet library.
- The patient's persistent, dry cough suggested an underlying allergic reaction rather than a typical viral infection.

### 2. an illness

noun · CEFR A2

a medical condition or sickness that makes you cough often.

For teachers: a clinical condition or symptom characterized by frequent bouts of coughing.

- I have a nasty cough, so I am staying home from work today.
- The doctor prescribed a soothing syrup to manage the child's nighttime cough and allow for better rest.

### 3. to push air out

verb · CEFR A2

to force air out of your lungs with a short, sharp sound.

For teachers: to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a sharp, explosive noise.

- The smoke from the campfire made everyone cough and move away.
- She tried to stifle her need to cough during the quietest movement of the symphony, but the irritation was too great.

### 4. to confess

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to tell the truth or give information, especially when you do not want to.

For teachers: to confess or surrender information under pressure; often used in criminal contexts.

- After an hour of questioning, the suspect finally started to cough.
- The detective was confident that the accomplice would eventually cough and reveal the location of the stolen goods.

Usage: Often used as 'cough it up' when referring to information.

### 5. to pay up

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to give or pay money, usually when you are forced to or do not want to.

For teachers: to surrender money or property, typically with reluctance or under duress.

- You owe me twenty dollars, so it is time to cough up.
- The insurance company was slow to cough up the settlement funds despite the clear evidence of the claimant's loss.

Usage: Almost always used with the particle 'up'.

### 6. ahem

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal

a sound you make to show you think someone is lying or to get attention.

For teachers: a vocalization used to represent a cough, employed pragmatically to signal irony, skepticism, or to attract attention.

- He said he was working late—cough—but I saw him at the cinema.
- The speaker paused and gave a pointed—cough—to indicate that the previous statement was a significant understatement of the facts.

## Examples

- He has a dry cough that won't go away.
- The teacher paused her lecture until the student's loud cough subsided and the room was quiet again.
- While a persistent cough is frequently a symptom of a minor viral infection, it can occasionally indicate a more serious underlying respiratory condition that requires clinical intervention.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.