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

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

Who put up the $175 million appeal bond for Trump when other insurers wouldn’t? —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

But just a few days after celebrating its anniversary in the Queen City, Weathered Souls was put up for sale. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024

And on the women’s side, No. 3 UConn ended No. 7 Duke’s season, 53-45, with star guard Paige Bueckers putting up 24 points. —Kathryn Sheldon, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024

The properties are then put up for sale at two public auctions in the fall. —Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024

That, in turn, stems from AWF’s longer history: the fund was launched back in 1993 and has put up a 1,560% total return since. —Brett Owens, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Trailing the play, Adebayo caught the pass from Martin and put up the shot early in the possession with the Warriors giving him space to take it. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

Keegan Murray is putting up 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 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