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

The Tigers haven’t seen an offense like TCU’s yet, and that should allow the Horned Frogs to put up plenty of points. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026

The front office also signed Bradley Chubb, who has put up four seasons with at least eight sacks. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Shortly after Seattle's Super Bowl victory the team was formally put up for sale by Jody Allen, whose late brother, Paul, purchased the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026

Seven decades later, the Elegante has finally been put up for public sale for the first time. — New Atlas, 10 Sep. 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