put

1 of 3

verb

ˈpu̇t 

put; putting

transitive verb

1

a

: to place in a specified position or relationship : lay

put the book on the table

b

: to move in a specified direction

c(1)

: to send (something, such as a weapon or missile) into or through something : thrust

(2)

: to throw with an overhand pushing motion

put the shot

d

: to bring into a specified state or condition

a reapportionment … that was put into effect at the September primaries

—Current Biography

e

: to prescribe a specified regimen for

—usually used with on

put her on medication

put him on a diet

2

a

: to cause to endure or suffer something : subject

put traitors to death

b

: impose, inflict

put a special tax on luxuries

3

a

: to set before one for judgment or decision

put the question

b

: to call for a formal vote on

put the motion

4

a(1)

: to convey into another form

want to put my feelings into words

(2)

: to translate into another language or style

put the poem into English

(3)

: adapt

lyrics put to music

b

: express, state

putting it mildly

5

a

: to devote (oneself) to an activity or end

put himself to winning back their confidence

b

: apply

put her mind to the problem

c

: assign

put them to work

d

: to cause to perform an action : urge

put the horse over the fence

e

: impel, incite

put them into a frenzy

6

a

: repose, rest

puts his faith in reason

b

: invest entry 1 sense 1

put her money in the company

7

a

: to give as an estimate

put the time as about eleven

b

: attach, attribute

puts a high value on their friendship

c

: impute

put the blame on the partners

8

: bet, wager

put $2 on the favorite

intransitive verb

1

: to start in motion : go

especially : to leave in a hurry

2

of a ship : to take a specified course

put down the river

put

2 of 3

noun

1

: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

specifically : the act or an instance of putting the shot

2

: an option to sell a specified amount of a security (such as a stock) or commodity (such as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time compare call sense 3d

put

3 of 3

adjective

: being in place : fixed, set

stay put until I call

Phrases

put forth

1

a

: assert, propose

b

: to make public : issue

2

: to bring into action : exert

3

: to produce or send out by growth

put forth leaves

4

: to start out

put forward

: propose

put forward a theory

put in mind

: remind

put one's finger on

: identify

put his finger on the cause of the trouble

put one's foot down

: to take a firm stand

put one's foot in one's mouth

: to make a tactless or embarrassing blunder

put paid to

chiefly British

: to finish off : bring an end to

put the arm on or put the bite on

: to ask for money

put the finger on

: to inform on

put the finger on … heroin pushers

—Barrie Zwicker

put the make on

: to make sexual advances toward

put to bed

: to make the final preparations for printing (something, such as a newspaper)

put together

1

: to create as a unified whole : construct

2

: add, combine

Synonyms

Verb

• depose
• deposit
• dispose
• emplace
• fix
• lay
• place
• position
• set
• set up
• situate
• stick

Examples of put in a Sentence

Verb

Put the car in the garage.

I put the keys on the table.

He put his arms around her and held her tight.

He fell and accidentally put his hand through a window.

The illness put her in the hospital for three days.

They put her in prison for forgery.

Her parents decided to put her in a special school for deaf children.

If she drove 55 mph for 20 minutes, that would put her about halfway there by now.

Don't forget to put your signature on the check.

He put his phone number on a napkin.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the meantime, designers were having fun with refined, linear silhouettes that put less emphasis on the waist and more on unbroken lines with an architectural flair. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024

The new alignment will put the coverage and return teams much closer together at the kick, curtailing those violent collisions when players have long runways before crashing into each other. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English putten; akin to Old English putung instigation, Middle Dutch poten to plant

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing put

• be put to death
• bring/call/put into play
• bring/put a stop to
• dip/put/stick a toe in the water
• get/put bums on seats
• get/put one's skates on
• get/put/stick your/one's oar in
• hard put
• have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of
• have/put one's hands in the till
• hold/put a gun to someone's head
• I wouldn't put it past (someone)
• lay/put a guilt trip on
• lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table
• lay/put (something) to rest
• lay/put stress on
• make/put a dent
• not to put too fine a point on it
• place/put little credence in
• place/put one's trust in
• place/put stock in
• put about
• put a check on
• put a cork in it
• put a crimp in
• put across
• put a dampener on
• put a damper on
• put a foot wrong
• put a hold on
• put a human face on
• put a lid on
• put a lid on it
• put all one's eggs in one basket
• put a name to (someone or something)
• put (an animal) off the/someone's scent
• put (an animal) out of its misery
• put-and-take
• put an end to (something)
• put a new/different complexion on
• put an exclamation point on
• put another question to
• put a price on
• put a price tag on
• put aside
• put a sock in it
• put at
• put a tail on (someone)
• put a wash on
• put away
• put back
• put before
• put by
• put considerable store in/by
• put down
• put down roots
• put down the phone
• put first things first
• put forth
• put forward
• put/get the word out
• put/give the baby up for adoption
• put great demands on
• put/have little faith in
• put her feelings into words
• put her there
• put ideas in/into someone's head
• put in
• put in a call to
• put in a good word
• put in an appearance
• put in a plug for
• put in for
• put in/into motion
• put in mind
• put in one's two cents
• put into
• put into effect
• put into words
• put it about
• put it there
• put/keep one out of action
• put/leave one's stamp
• put/make (someone) wise to
• put off
• put on
• put on a brave face
• put on a clinic
• put on a happy face
• put on airs
• put on an act
• put one foot in front of the other
• put one's back into
• put one's best foot forward
• put one's ducks in a row
• put (oneself) across as
• put (oneself) over as (something)
• put one's feet up
• put one's finger on
• put one's foot down
• put one's foot in it
• put one's foot in one's mouth
• put one's heart into
• put one's imprint on
• put one's life back together
• put (one's) money on
• put one's money where one's mouth is
• put one's shirt on
• put one's thinking cap on
• put one up to
• put on hiatus
• put on one's thinking cap
• put on show
• put out
• put out feelers
• put out the fire
• put out to pasture
• put (out) to sea
• put over
• put paid to
• put pen to paper
• put/place a premium on
• put/placed on probation
• put/place someone at a disadvantage
• put/place (someone) on a pedestal
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• put/set one's mind to (something)
• put/set pen to paper
• put/set (something) to rights
• put some daylight between
• put some muscle into
• put (someone) at ease
• put (someone) down as
• put (someone) down for
• put (someone) in a pigeonhole
• put someone in his/her place
• put (someone) in mind of (something)
• put someone in the picture
• put (someone) off his/her stride
• put (someone) off his/her stroke
• put (someone) on to
• put (someone or something) in the shade
• put (someone or something) through his/her/its paces
• put (someone or something) to shame
• put (someone or something) to the test
• put (someone) out of a job
• put (someone) out of work
• put (someone) out to grass
• put someone's back up
• put someone's name down
• put (someone) to flight
• put (someone) to the sword
• put (someone) up to
• put (something) behind (oneself)
• put (something) down to
• put (something) into practice
• put (something) into service
• put (something) into words
• put (something or someone) on the map
• put (something) out of one's mind
• put (something) over on (someone)
• put (something) together with
• put (something) to (good) use
• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• put/stick that in your pipe and smoke it
• put/stick two fingers up at someone
• put/take out a contract on
• put that idea out of your head
• put that/it out of one's mind
• put the/a hurt on
• put the arm on
• put the bite on
• put the car in/into gear
• put the cart before the horse
• put the children to bed
• put the fear of God into (someone)
• put the finger on
• put the fire out
• put their/our/your heads together
• put the kibosh on
• put the lid on
• put the make on
• put the moves on
• put the pedal to the metal
• put the phone down on (someone)
• put the screws on/to (someone or something)
• put the skids under
• put the washing out
• put the whammy on someone
• put the wind up (someone)
• put things to rights
• put through
• put through the wringer
• put/throw a spanner in the works
• put/throw one's weight/influence behind
• put/tie/strap on the feedbag
• put to bed
• put together
• put to rout
• put to sleep
• put two and two together
• put under the microscope
• put up
• put up a brave front
• put up a good/brave front
• put-up job
• put-upon
• put up or shut up
• put up with
• put us on notice
• put words in/into someone's mouth
• put years on
• set/put someone's mind at ease/rest
• set/put someone straight
• set/put (something) straight
• set/put the record straight
• shot put
• stay put
• the shot put
• tighten/put the thumbscrews on
• to put it mildly
• to put it politely
• to put the boot in
• turned/put the spotlight on

Kids Definition

put

1 of 3 verb

ˈpu̇t 

put; putting

1

a

: to place in or move into a position or relationship

put the book down

b

: to throw with an overhand pushing motion

put the shot

c

: to bring into a state or condition

put it to use

put the matter right

put us at risk

2

a

: to cause to undergo something

was put to death

b

: impose sense 1a

put a special tax on luxuries

3

: to set before one for judgment or decision (as by a formal vote)

put the motion

4

: express entry 4 sense 1a

put your feelings into words

5

a

: to devote or urge to an activity or end

put them to work

b

: invest entry 2 sense 1

put our money in the company

6

a

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

put the time at about eleven

b

: attach sense 5

puts a high value on friendship

7

: go entry 1 sense 1, proceed

the ship put to sea

put

2 of 3 noun

: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

put

3 of 3 adjective

: fixed sense 1a, set

stay put until I come back

Legal Definition

put

noun

: put option at option 3