expectorate
verb
ex·pec·to·rate
ik-ˈspek-tə-ˌrāt 
expectorated; expectorating
1
: to discharge matter from the throat or lungs by coughing or hawking and spitting
2
: spit
Examples of expectorate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For expectorating adults looking down, a guard may block big droplets but work less well for shorter persons, like children.
—
San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2024
Place used clothing in hampers; blow your nose in a tissue; clear your throat and expectorate to remove mucus, which may contain particles inhaled in a lab; place glasses in the decontaminating solution for three minutes; take a full-body shower.
—Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2012
Places where people might need to talk loudly, sing, or otherwise expectorate without a mask are seen as riskier than those where everyone can easily wear a mask at all times.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2020
Of course, there’s never been any such game where players young and old didn’t expectorate freely.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 8 May 2020
When Andrei blasts Matvey with a shotgun, blowing apart one of his sofa cushions, which in turn expectorates a bunch of American dollars, those deeper motives becomes obvious.
—Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2024
Place used clothing in hampers; blow your nose in a tissue; clear your throat and expectorate to remove mucus, which may contain particles inhaled in a lab; place glasses in the decontaminating solution for three minutes; take a full-body shower.
—Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2012
Places where people might need to talk loudly, sing, or otherwise expectorate without a mask are seen as riskier than those where everyone can easily wear a mask at all times.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2020
Of course, there’s never been any such game where players young and old didn’t expectorate freely.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 8 May 2020
When Andrei blasts Matvey with a shotgun, blowing apart one of his sofa cushions, which in turn expectorates a bunch of American dollars, those deeper motives becomes obvious.
—Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near expectorate
Cite this Entry
“Expectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expectorate. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expectorate
verb
ex·pec·to·rate
ik-ˈspek-tə-ˌrāt
expectorated; expectorating
: to discharge (as phlegm) from the throat or lungs by coughing and spitting
also
: spit entry 2 sense 1a
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share