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

Verb

Coupled with its 55% tumble last outing, the Warner Bros. release has been putting up some holds that are slightly but notably stronger than the average horror release. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 Sep. 2023

His coalition partners may put up strong resistance to any significant concessions for the Palestinians, which could in turn be a deal breaker for Saudi Arabia. —Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023

The Commanders will put up more of a fight, especially with pass rusher Chase Young back in form. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023

The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 27 total points, and the Kansas City Chiefs have put up 37, just to name a couple. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2023

The 288-bed senior living facility was put up for sale last year, and local residents have been protesting for the last month amid rumors that migrants would soon be placed there. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023

The southern white rhinos, thought to be the largest single population of their kind, were put up for auction in April with a starting price of $10 million. —Rachel Nuwer, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

Brooks wasn’t alone putting up those numbers either. —Vulture, 18 Sep. 2023

The Giants didn’t put up much of a fight in their opener, losing 40-0 to the Dallas Cowboys. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 17 Sep. 2023

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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