1
as in throwing (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggerating
to describe or express in too strong terms
some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
put on a show of anger just for fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of putting on
Classes were offered on serving in-fight refreshments and putting on make-up.
—
Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
If meeting men outside were as simple as putting on your best little black dress and heading to your nearest bar, few would be struggling to connect with potential partners.
—Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Being known for putting on a dunk show in warmups, the 185-pound power wing can jump out of the gym and please the crowd before the game even starts.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Mark Ruffalo stars as veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis, who’s assigned to lead a task force to catch a gang of low-level crooks who’ve been putting on Halloween masks and ripping off local drug dealers, in a scheme reminiscent of Apple TV+’s recent Dope Thief.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
Before the season ended, Copen made sure to return to the Great Lakes dugout, putting on the uniform and joining his Loons teammates to show everything was alright.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Swift is a professional performer, observed by millions on the world’s biggest stages—but don’t we all stage performances of self, putting on our own little shows?
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
The first-quarter results highlight the pressure US import tariffs are putting on Japanese automakers, even as a trade pact between Tokyo and Washington offers potential relief.
—CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Gaumont and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA are putting on a month-long film retrospective.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
If meeting men outside were as simple as putting on your best little black dress and heading to your nearest bar, few would be struggling to connect with potential partners.
—Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Being known for putting on a dunk show in warmups, the 185-pound power wing can jump out of the gym and please the crowd before the game even starts.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Mark Ruffalo stars as veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis, who’s assigned to lead a task force to catch a gang of low-level crooks who’ve been putting on Halloween masks and ripping off local drug dealers, in a scheme reminiscent of Apple TV+’s recent Dope Thief.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
Before the season ended, Copen made sure to return to the Great Lakes dugout, putting on the uniform and joining his Loons teammates to show everything was alright.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Swift is a professional performer, observed by millions on the world’s biggest stages—but don’t we all stage performances of self, putting on our own little shows?
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
The first-quarter results highlight the pressure US import tariffs are putting on Japanese automakers, even as a trade pact between Tokyo and Washington offers potential relief.
—CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Gaumont and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA are putting on a month-long film retrospective.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putting on
Verb
-
This exercise revealed Janelle wasn’t exaggerating.—
Albert Kim,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Retailing for $1,073 and available in purple, black, brown, highlighter yellow and red, the Metal Dragon boot has become one of Windowsen’s most recognizable designs, known for exaggerating scale and structure.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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But that injury was balanced out by years of creative play that kept my kids climbing, pretending, and running around with friends independently.—
Carrie Lukas,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Many businesses closing in Urfa were previously non-production businesses, established at zero cost with government incentives, used as warehouses while pretending to operate, and then declared bankrupt.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Storm Breaker, donning black and white patterning, is probably the least attractive of the bunch (to me, anyway).—
Mitch Wallace,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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The 1990 Academy Awards, notably, doubled as an Armani showcase, with five attendees donning his designs, namely Michelle Pfeiffer, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Jessica Lange and Jessica Tandy.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In 2022, the company achieved the world’s first test of a megawatt-class, multi-kilovolt hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions simulating single-aisle commercial flight.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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On occasion, especially as the film builds to its lugubrious finale, Mielants tries other tricks, simulating long tracking shots that seem to glide through the school and then out onto the grounds.—
Richard Lawson,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians have taken over our state and our country, rigging the system for themselves.—
Olivia Osteen,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
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In 2023, Fox News agreed to pay over $787 million to settle a defamation suit over false claims said on its air about Dominion Voting Systems rigging the 2020 presidential election.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Free as a Bird albums — with Davies assuming the lead vocals and songwriting by himself.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Creating truly inclusive environments means understanding and addressing these disparities, not assuming one-size-fits-all solutions will work.—
Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Putting on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putting%20on. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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