put-on

1 of 3

adjective

ˈpu̇t-ˈȯn 

-ˈän

: pretended, assumed

put-on

2 of 3

noun

ˈpu̇t-ˌȯn 

-ˌän

1

: an instance of putting someone on

… conversational put-ons are related to old-fashioned joshing …

—Jacob Brackman

2

: parody, spoof

… a kind of put-on of every pretentious film ever made …

—C. A. Ridley

put on

3 of 3

verb

put on; putting on; puts on

transitive verb

1

a

: to dress oneself in : don

b

: to make part of one's appearance or behavior

c

: feign

put a saintly manner on

2

: to cause to act or operate : apply

put on more speed

3

a

: add

put on weight

b

: exaggerate, overstate

4

: perform, produce

put on a play

5

a

: to mislead deliberately especially for amusement

The interviewer … must be put down—or possibly, put on.

—Melvin Maddocks

b

: kid entry 3 sense 1

you're putting me on

Synonyms of put-on

Adjective

• mock
• fake
• false
• strained
• unnatural
• exaggerated
• mechanical
• contrived
• artificial
• simulated
• pseudo

Noun

• pretense
• facade
• show
• guise
• act
• pose

Verb

• throw (on)
• don
• slip (on or into)
• rig

Examples of put-on in a Sentence

Adjective

a put-on goofy voice

Noun

my bravery was all a put-on—I was scared out of my wits

for a moment, I couldn't tell if the commercial was serious or a deadpan put-on of ads by other insurance companies

Verb

I put on a coat and shoes to go outside.

some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But after a perfunctory squeeze, her father lays his head on her shoulder in a gesture of affectionate, put-on penitence. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

These are two really good actors whose investments in what could have been let’s-put-on-a-show theater-kid performances go much deeper. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Verb

Perfect for suiting up and putting on ski or hiking boots, the cushioned seat flips over and doubles as a worktop, serving as an extension of the rear garage and/or the compact kitchen block. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Put into bat, Hope gave West Indies a flying by putting on 52 off 26 balls with Jewel Andrew (21). — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for put-on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

put-on

1 of 2 noun

ˈpu̇t-ˌȯn, 

-ˌän

1

: a false appearance or presentation

my bravery was all a put-on

2

: a joke in which someone is fooled

put on

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)pu̇t-ˈȯn, 

-ˈän

1

a

: to dress oneself in

b

: to make part of one's appearance or behavior

c

: pretend entry 1 sense 1

put on a show of anger

2

: exaggerate, overstate

they're putting it on when they make such claims

3

: perform sense 3b, produce

put on an entertaining act

4

: kid entry 2 sense 1, fool

you're putting me on

put-on adjective