put-up

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpu̇t-ˈəp 

: 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

: set sense 16

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

: build, erect

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

Synonyms

Verb

• erect
• pitch
• raise
• rear
• set up
• upend
• upraise

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

Spielberg’s team had already worked with Participant on several high-profile films, including Lincoln and The Help, and Skoll put up $200 million, with Reliance Group and eOne also investing in the venture. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

March 19 Police in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles put up barricades in anticipation of protests by Trump supporters. —USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

The agencies that allocated the funds for the prototype have not yet put up the money to create its successor. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2024

The move will put up for grabs some prime real estate in Dade and Broward counties, where eight of the markets are located. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024

The squatters also put up a legal warning that intended to justify their right to stay there, per the outlet. —Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

Do it, and a statue of Hutson would be put up on campus right away. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024

So on April 2, about a week after the bird first landed on an employee’s shoulder, she was put up for adoption. —Cathy Free, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Then the figure pulls out that simian mask, slips it on and puts up his dukes. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1810, in the meaning defined above

Verb

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

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

: build entry 1 sense 1, erect

5

: carry on sense 2

put up a struggle

6

: to make available

put up a prize for the best essay