put-up

1 of 2

adjective

: arranged secretly beforehand
a put-up job

put up

2 of 2

verb

put up; putting up; puts up

transitive verb

1
a
: to place in a container or receptacle
put his lunch up in a bag
b
: to put away (a sword) in a scabbard : sheathe
c
: to prepare so as to preserve for later use : can
d
: to put in storage
2
: to start (game animals) from cover
3
: to nominate for election
4
: to offer up (something, such as a prayer)
5
6
: to make available
especially : to offer for public sale
put their possessions up for auction
7
: to give food and shelter to : accommodate
8
: to arrange (a plot, a scheme, etc.) with others
put up a job to steal the jewels
9
10
a
: to make a display of
put up a brave front
b
: to engage in
put up a struggle
11
a
: contribute, pay
put up bail money
b
: to offer as a prize or stake
12
chiefly British : to increase the amount of : raise
13
: to succeed in producing or achieving
an athlete who has put up big numbers
also : score sense 4a(1)
put up 20 points

intransitive verb

1
: lodge
2
: to take direct action
used in the phrase put up or shut up
Phrases
put one up to
: to incite one to (a course of action)
they put him up to playing the prank
put up with
: to endure or tolerate without complaint or attempt at reprisal

Examples of put-up in a Sentence

Verb the builders put up the walls before starting on the roof plans to put up a pavilion in the public gardens
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Sadly, one of those theories was promoted by Utah senator Mike Lee, who spread the risible idea that the whole Capitol riot was some sort of put-up job by the feds rather than criminal misconduct by Trump supporters. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Verb
On June 14, the one-cent Z-grill will be put up for sale by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, marking the first time the rare stamp has been on auction since 1998. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 A couple of newcomers have put up strong showings, and an unscripted stalwart is growing, too. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Other residents in the city have put up cones and otherwise obstructed the vehicles. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 And in 2019, Gion again put up signs prohibiting photography and warning of potential fines. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 The judgment in the Carroll case becomes final Monday, and to keep it from being enforced amid appeals, Trump must put up money in cash or bonds. Mark Berman, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Who else would put up with chicks biting their ankles during feeding time? Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024 All of you taught me countless lessons and put up with a very young, rambunctious kid that was full of immaturity, stupidity and cockiness. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 The 3rd year forward turned himself into an All-Star (the second youngest in Raptors history) and put up career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'put-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1810, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of put-up was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near put-up

Cite this Entry

“Put-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put-up. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

put up

verb
1
a
: to prepare for later use
put up a lunch
especially : can entry 3 sense 1
put up peaches
b
: to put away out of use
put up your sword
2
a
: to nominate for election
b
: to offer for public sale
put their possessions up for auction
3
: to give or obtain food and shelter : lodge
put us up overnight
4
5
: carry on sense 2
put up a struggle
6
: to make available
put up a prize for the best essay
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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