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

see also:

put one up to put up with

Synonyms of put-up

Verb

• erect
• raise
• set up

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

Verb

Missouri’s last rider, Kade Madsen, had too much ground to make up but still seemed poised to put up a qualifying ride. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026

One solution that came from readers of this column was to put up a flag whenever the pool was open and take it down whenever guests weren’t welcome. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Signs have been put up in Brookhaven Park to help locate the third kitten. — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

After receiving medical exams, the cats, including several pregnant cats and kittens, were taken to an ASPCA recovery facility in Ohio, where they’ll be cared for and put up for adoption. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1810, in the meaning defined above

Verb

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

Rhymes for put-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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