cough
verb (used without object)
to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a harsh noise, often involuntarily.
coughs
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pluralof cough.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof cough (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
coughverb (used without object)to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a harsh noise, often involuntarily.
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.
"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
Twists again, and the radio coughs out a few garbled words of a Swiss broadcast.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
