put

1 of 3

verb

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 primariesCurrent 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
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 pushersBarrie 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

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
The White House has attacked Hur’s report with the goal of winning the Presidential election—but, in doing so, may have put Biden at greater risk of prosecution in a future Trump Administration. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024 Perfect for running and walking enthusiasts alike, the sporty kicks are strategically designed to propel you forward to put an extra pep in your step, all while absorbing shock, cradling your arches, and preventing fatigue. Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Two intersecting storylines involve confident tween girls pushing for more independence in ways that put themselves and their parents in harm’s way. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 The English version of the book, translated by Ken Liu, put the scenes at the novel’s beginning, with the author’s blessing. Nectar Gan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 That’s because Apple puts tight restrictions on apps that compete with its own Apple Music service. Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 Attempts to put rumors to bed by releasing a photo of her on Mother's Day in the U.K. surrounded by her three smiling children backfired when The Associated Press and other news agencies retracted the image because it had been manipulated. arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2024 Poway coach Charlie Jackson, the tournament organizer, put together the biggest field of non-San Diego teams in the tournament’s 17-year history. Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 In some of its most crucial markets, including the US, Toyota is fiercely challenging decisions that put EVs at the center of the clean-energy transition for transportation. Angela Dewan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
Changing a zoning code puts to paper a city’s decision to raise maximum building heights, reduce parking requirements or increase the allowable density of a specific parcel. Ben Christopher, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 Apart from entertaining, the multi-hyphenate puts just as much importance on being a good guest. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 In the wake of the IPO news, Reddit users on r/WallStreetBets and similar forums are already talking about buying put options on Reddit shares, a type of investment that bets a company’s share price will tumble. Robert Peck, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 But Indiana responded with a 14-4 run to take an 82-65 lead with 4:15 remaining the put the game out of reach. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2024 As stocks fell, those puts started multiplying in value, likely requiring options dealers to bet against the market to offset their positions. WSJ, 21 Dec. 2023 So far, 14,000 puts have been exchanged, four times the intraday average volume, in comparison to 4,469 calls. Schaeffer's Investment Research, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Galloway disagrees, pointing out that Apple is spending tens of millions of dollars to have Paramount (and Sony and Universal) put — and keep — its movies in theaters. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Nov. 2023 These affordable tips make your festive arrangements look like a pro put them together. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2023
Adjective
That's based on the price of put options that would payout if the S&P 500 fell 5% in the next year. Eric Wallerstein, WSJ, 25 July 2023 Options are priced on volatility and the premiums aren't always worth it. Buy a put option: downside protection on some of your stock In this example, an investor would forgo the income-generating call option and only buy a put to reduce their risk. Kristin McKenna, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Price at time of publish: $6 This bed sheet set not only helps college students sleep better but can make their dorm room look more put together. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2023 Starting in November, Comcast has had a put option to require Disney to take over its stake, while Disney has had the right to tell Comcast to sell it its stake. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2023 There's been an uptick in put options trading tied to the S&P 500 index, relative to calls, according to Citi data analyzing the market for one-day options. WSJ, 25 Sep. 2023 Throw on a thin leather brown or black belt with gold hardware and the ensemble instantly looks more put together. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2023 Of the ten largest companies in the S&P 500, Nvidia is the only stock for which the price of call options — which are desirable if the stock goes up — is higher than put options, according to data from Nations Indexes. Byryan Vlastelica, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023 Recently, the venture capital arm of L’Oreal put money into a San Diego startup, Debut, that, like Arcaea, is seeking to leverage biotech to create consumer products. Scott Kirsner, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of put was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near put

Cite this Entry

“Put.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

put

1 of 3 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on put

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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