Phrase guide

spit up

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To regurgitate or vomit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: especially, intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • The baby spat up her breakfast.
  • Don't show the dead bird to him; he'll just spit up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expectorate, cough up, cough out, spit out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: exhaust, discharge, expel, eject, release

Narrower terms: cough, spit, ptyalize, ptyalise, spew, spue, splutter, sputter, spit out

3

verb

Meaning 3

give reluctantly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He coughed up some money for his children's tuition

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cough up, pony up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: give

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.