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put-on

adjective
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\ ˈpu̇t-ˈȯn How to pronounce put-on (audio) , -ˈän \

Definition of put-on

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: pretended, assumed

put-on

noun
\ ˈpu̇t-ˌȯn How to pronounce put-on (audio) , -ˌän \

Definition of put-on (Entry 2 of 3)

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

verb
put on; putting on; puts on

Definition of put on (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : 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
3a : add put on weight
b : exaggerate, overstate
4 : perform, produce put on a play
5a : 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 & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About put-on

Examples of put-on in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of put-on

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

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Time Traveler for put-on

Time Traveler

The first known use of put-on was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near put-on

put off

put-on

put on

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Statistics for put-on

Cite this Entry

“Put-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put-on. Accessed 27 May. 2022.

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