put

1 of 3

verb

ˈpu̇t 

put; putting

transitive verb

1

a

: to place in a specified position or relationship : lay

put the book on the table

b

: to move in a specified direction

c(1)

: to send (something, such as a weapon or missile) into or through something : thrust

(2)

: to throw with an overhand pushing motion

put the shot

d

: to bring into a specified state or condition

… a reapportionment … that was put into effect at the September primaries.

—Current Biography

e

: to prescribe a specified regimen for

—usually used with on

put her on medication

put him on a diet

2

a

: to cause to endure or suffer something : subject

put traitors to death

b

: impose, inflict

put a special tax on luxuries

3

a

: to set before one for judgment or decision

put the question

b

: to call for a formal vote on

put the motion

4

a(1)

: to convey into another form

want to put my feelings into words

(2)

: to translate into another language or style

put the poem into English

(3)

: adapt

lyrics put to music

b

: express, state

putting it mildly

5

a

: to devote (oneself) to an activity or end

put himself to winning back their confidence

b

: apply

put her mind to the problem

c

: assign

put them to work

d

: to cause to perform an action : urge

put the horse over the fence

e

: impel, incite

put them into a frenzy

6

a

: repose, rest

puts his faith in reason

b

: invest entry 1 sense 1

put her money in the company

7

a

: to give as an estimate

put the time as about eleven

b

: attach, attribute

puts a high value on their friendship

c

: impute

put the blame on the partners

8

: bet, wager

put $2 on the favorite

intransitive verb

1

: to start in motion : go

especially : to leave in a hurry

2

of a ship : to take a specified course

put down the river

see also:

put forth put forward put in mind put one's finger on put one's foot down put one's foot in one's mouth put paid to put the arm on put the finger on put the make on put to bed put together

put

2 of 3

noun

1

: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

specifically : the act or an instance of putting the shot

2

: an option to sell a specified amount of a security (such as a stock) or commodity (such as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time compare call sense 3d

put

3 of 3

adjective

: being in place : fixed, set

stay put until I call

Synonyms of put

Verb

• situate
• place
• lay
• position
• locate
• stick
• set
• deposit

Examples of put in a Sentence

Verb

Put the car in the garage.

I put the keys on the table.

He put his arms around her and held her tight.

He fell and accidentally put his hand through a window.

The illness put her in the hospital for three days.

They put her in prison for forgery.

Her parents decided to put her in a special school for deaf children.

If she drove 55 mph for 20 minutes, that would put her about halfway there by now.

Don't forget to put your signature on the check.

He put his phone number on a napkin.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

An estimate from the British spy agency GCHQ released Wednesday put the total Russian death toll at 500,000, citing new information. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Venice senior Lawrence Kensinger, who set the City Section shot put record with a state-leading throw of 65 feet 11 inches last week, had the third-best mark at prelims (59-6¾) and easily advanced to the finals. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

Noun

By comparison, five times more puts traded in the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) than calls. —Oliver Renick, CNBC, 27 May 2026

Jennifer Aniston’s relaxed jean shorts are an ideal balance between casual and put-together, while Margot Robbie’s tailored Bermuda style pair feel sleek and sophisticated. —Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026

Adjective

Almost three times more put contracts traded by volume compared to calls, with more than 380,000 puts likely bought compared to under 270,000 sold, according to ThinkOrSwim data. —Oliver Renick, CNBC, 27 May 2026

Per a series of call and put options pegged to the performance of Tilbury’s business, Puig is set to buy Tilbury’s stake and reach 100 percent ownership between now and 2031. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English putten; akin to Old English putung instigation, Middle Dutch poten to plant

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing put

• be put to death
• bring/call/put into play
• bring/put a stop to
• dip/put/stick a toe in the water
• get/put bums on seats
• get/put one's skates on
• get/put/stick your/one's oar in
• hard put
• have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of
• have/put one's hands in the till
• hold/put a gun to someone's head
• I wouldn't put it past (someone)
• lay/put a guilt trip on
• lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table
• lay/put (something) to rest
• lay/put stress on
• make/put a dent
• not to put too fine a point on it
• place/put little credence in
• place/put stock in
• put about
• put a check on
• put a cork in it
• put a crimp in
• put across
• put a dampener on
• put a damper on
• put a foot wrong
• put a hold on
• put a human face on
• put a lid on
• put a lid on it
• put all one's eggs in one basket
• put a name to (someone or something)
• put (an animal) off the/someone's scent
• put (an animal) out of its misery
• put-and-take
• put an end to (something)
• put a new/different complexion on
• put an exclamation point on
• put another question to
• put a price on
• put a price tag on
• put aside
• put a sock in it
• put a stop to
• put at
• put a tail on (someone)
• put a wash on
• put away
• put back
• put before
• put by
• put considerable store in/by
• put-down
• put down roots
• put down the phone
• put first things first
• put forth
• put forward
• put/get the word out
• put/give the baby up for adoption
• put great demands on
• put/have little faith in
• put her feelings into words
• put her there
• put ideas in/into someone's head
• put ideas into his head
• put in
• put in a call to
• put in a good word
• put in an appearance
• put in a plug for
• put in for
• put in/into motion
• put in mind
• put in one's two cents
• put into
• put into effect
• put into words
• put it about
• put it there
• put/keep/have blinders on
• put/keep one out of action
• put/leave one's stamp
• put/make (someone) wise to
• put my feet up
• put off
• put-on
• put on a brave face
• put on a clinic
• put on a happy face
• put on airs
• put on an act
• put one foot in front of the other
• put one's back into
• put one's best foot forward
• put one's ducks in a row
• put (oneself) across as
• put (oneself) over as (something)
• put one's feet up
• put one's finger on
• put one's foot down
• put one's foot in it
• put one's foot in one's mouth
• put one's heart into
• put one's imprint on
• put one's life back together
• put (one's) money on
• put one's money where one's mouth is
• put one's shirt on
• put one's thinking cap on
• put one's tinfoil hat on
• put one up to
• put on hiatus
• put on one's thinking cap
• put on show
• put on the dog
• put out
• put out feelers
• put out the fire
• put out to pasture
• put (out) to sea
• put over
• put paid to
• put pen to paper
• put/place a premium on
• put/placed his trust in
• put/placed on probation
• put/place someone at a disadvantage
• put/place (someone) on a pedestal
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• put/set one's mind to (something)
• put/set pen to paper
• put/set (something) to rights
• put some daylight between
• put some muscle into
• put (someone) at ease
• put (someone) down as
• put (someone) down for
• put (someone) in a pigeonhole
• put someone in his/her place
• put (someone) in mind of (something)
• put someone in the picture
• put (someone) off his/her stride
• put (someone) off his/her stroke
• put (someone) on to
• put (someone or something) in the shade
• put (someone or something) through his/her/its paces
• put (someone or something) to shame
• put (someone or something) to the test
• put (someone) out of a job
• put (someone) out of work
• put (someone) out to grass
• put someone's back up
• put someone's name down
• put (someone) to flight
• put (someone) to the sword
• put (someone) up to
• put (something) behind (oneself)
• put (something) down to
• put (something) into practice
• put (something) into service
• put (something) into words
• put (something or someone) on the map
• put (something) out of one's mind
• put (something) over on (someone)
• put (something) together with
• put (something) to (good) use
• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• put/stick that in your pipe and smoke it
• put/stick two fingers up at someone
• put/take out a contract on
• put that idea out of your head
• put that/it out of one's mind
• put the/a hurt on
• put the arm on
• put the bite on
• put the car in/into gear
• put the cart before the horse
• put the children to bed
• put the fear of God into
• put the fear of God into (someone)
• put the finger on
• put the fire out
• put their/our/your heads together
• put the kibosh on
• put the lid on
• put the make on
• put the moves on
• put the pedal to the metal
• put the phone down on (someone)
• put the screws on/to (someone or something)
• put the skids under
• put the washing out
• put the whammy on someone
• put the wind up (someone)
• put things to rights
• put through
• put through the wringer
• put/throw a spanner in the works
• put/throw one's weight/influence behind
• put/tie/strap on the feedbag
• put to bed
• put together
• put to rout
• put to sleep
• put two and two together
• put under the microscope
• put-up
• put up a brave front
• put up a good/brave front
• put-up job
• put-upon
• put up or shut up
• put up with
• put us on notice
• put words in/into someone's mouth
• put years on
• set/put someone's mind at ease/rest
• set/put someone straight
• set/put (something) straight
• set/put them straight
• set/put the record straight
• set/put your mind at ease/rest
• shot put
• stay put
• the shot put
• tighten/put the thumbscrews on
• to put it mildly
• to put it politely
• to put the boot in
• turned/put the spotlight on

Rhymes for put

• foot
• soot
• afoot
• barefoot
• bigfoot
• blackfoot
• caput
• clubfoot
• cocksfoot
• crowfoot
• forefoot
• input

Kids Definition

put

1 of 3 verb

ˈpu̇t 

put; putting

1

a

: to place in or move into a position or relationship

put the book down

b

: to throw with an overhand pushing motion

put the shot

c

: to bring into a state or condition

put it to use

put the matter right

put us at risk

2

a

: to cause to undergo something

was put to death

b

: impose sense 1a

put a special tax on luxuries

3

: to set before one for judgment or decision (as by a formal vote)

put the motion

4

: express entry 4 sense 1a

put your feelings into words

5

a

: to devote or urge to an activity or end

put them to work

b

: invest entry 2 sense 1

put our money in the company

6

a

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

put the time at about eleven

b

: attach sense 5

puts a high value on friendship

7

: go entry 1 sense 1, proceed

the ship put to sea

put

2 of 3 noun

: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

put

3 of 3 adjective

: fixed sense 1a, set

stay put until I come back

Legal Definition

put

noun

: put option at option 3