cough
verb (used without object)
to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a harsh noise, often involuntarily.
coughing
-
present participleof cough.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
"I felt very ill because I have asthma. I started coughing and I threw up," she told AFP at a gymnasium in the northern Madrid suburb of Alcobendas.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
Cilia, tiny hairs that clear mucus out of the lungs, resume working within weeks, prompting coughing that clears the lungs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Since March, government figures show nearly 750 people, mostly children, have died from the highly contagious disease, which spreads easily through breathing, coughing or sneezing.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
But even after the studio won a bidding war for the story, it balked at coughing up the money for a movie worthy of Madonna’s legacy.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
But then the coughing starts up again, and it sounds even worse than before.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
