Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

put-on

adjective
\ 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

Keep scrolling for more

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about put-on

Statistics for put-on

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for put-on

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for put-on

put-on

adjective
How to pronounce put on (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of put-on

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: not real or genuine

put-on

noun
How to pronounce put on (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of put-on (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly US : the act of saying things that are not true in a joking way

More from Merriam-Webster on put-on

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with put-on

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for put-on

Comments on put-on

What made you want to look up put-on? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

insuperable

Listen to the pronounciation of insuperable

incapable of being surmounted or overcome

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a closeup of a sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games