put; putting
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
Current Biography
e
: to prescribe a specified regimen for
—usually used with on
put her on medication
put him on a diet
2
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
5
6
b
: invest entry 1 sense 1
put her money in the company
7
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
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
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
Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
The lack of cameras in the building has put the university in the spotlight as authorities continue to try and identify a person of interest whose image was captured on cameras outside the grounds of the Ivy League campus.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
Tony Zhang, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025
Then One Battle After Another put awards season in a chokehold in September, in part because Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall all came across as Oscar contenders.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
One way to do this would be to use a put spread, such as the November 75/65 as follows, a trade that might also serve a bearish speculator, risking less than 4% of the current stock price to make a bearish bet.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
That still puts a future incinerator a couple of miles from the Broward city of Miramar, but not as close as the idle Miami-Dade airport that the county once had picked as the preferred incinerator site.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
The lack of cameras in the building has put the university in the spotlight as authorities continue to try and identify a person of interest whose image was captured on cameras outside the grounds of the Ivy League campus.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
Options trade With an IV Rank of 4%, options remain inexpensive for buying downside exposure using puts.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025
Then One Battle After Another put awards season in a chokehold in September, in part because Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall all came across as Oscar contenders.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
During past shutdowns, the possibility of the military not being paid put pressure on Congress, but that's off the table this time because the White House is able to repurpose funds for now to pay them, says NPR's Sam Gringlas.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
One way to do this would be to use a put spread, such as the November 75/65 as follows, a trade that might also serve a bearish speculator, risking less than 4% of the current stock price to make a bearish bet.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put
Cite this Entry
“Put.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
put
1 of 3 verb
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
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