1. to cough up and spit out phlegm or other matter from the throat or lungs
Usage: medical/formal

Examples

• The doctor asked the patient to expectorate into a cup for testing.
• He began to expectorate blood, which alarmed his family.
• The nurse instructed her to expectorate any mucus she coughed up.
• After the respiratory infection, it took weeks before he stopped expectorating.
• The medication helped reduce her need to expectorate constantly.
• Signs in the hospital reminded patients where to expectorate safely.