put (someone) up to
phrasal verb
put (someone) up to; putting (someone) up to; puts (someone) up to
: to convince (someone) to do (something stupid or foolish)
His friends put him up to (playing) the prank.
Examples of put (someone) up to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many of the remaining trade barriers on U.S. goods are there for a reason — such as to protect a key local industry in a country or in response to a separate barrier the United States has put up to protect its own goods.
—
Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
The latest: Craveworthy is in the middle of raising $40 million in capital, though could put up to $300 million to $400 million to work over the next 18 months, Majewski says.
—Richard Collings, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
Augustina, Blessing, and other family members and supporters arrive not long after the sun comes up, gathering at the blockade prison officials put up to keep protesters out.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
Since 2022, Sajwani says he’s put up to $2 billion into American private equity firms and startups, including investments in Musk’s SpaceX in 2023 and in his artificial intelligence firm xAI last year.
—Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put (someone) up to
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.
Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
The latest: Craveworthy is in the middle of raising $40 million in capital, though could put up to $300 million to $400 million to work over the next 18 months, Majewski says.
—Richard Collings, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
Augustina, Blessing, and other family members and supporters arrive not long after the sun comes up, gathering at the blockade prison officials put up to keep protesters out.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
Since 2022, Sajwani says he’s put up to $2 billion into American private equity firms and startups, including investments in Musk’s SpaceX in 2023 and in his artificial intelligence firm xAI last year.
—Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put (someone) up to
Cite this Entry
“Put (someone) up to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20%28someone%29%20up%20to. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share