1
as in throwing (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Here’s what to know about quinoa’s nutrition and five bowls worth putting on your table.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
The local group is putting on an auction in the Arboretum’s Palm Room.
—Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In this spooky play, five high school theater students are putting on an educational show about the dangers of drinking and driving by re-creating a deadly car crash.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters' birthday is Saturday, and in his memory his eldest son is putting on a concert in Chicago.
—Zak Spector, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Real America’s Music is putting on a show.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
On his proper introduction, Nett seems keen to fashion himself in the mold of new-wave rage stars like Che and Osamason, burning his low-end to a crisp and putting on his best Keef squeak.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Which was why, at the very end, when Gordon tuned in on the wireless to a dance band and Robert was supposed to waltz Olwyn about the room, Stella had no patience with St Ives’s reaction to Geoffrey’s ten-second delay in putting on the gramophone record.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
The local group is putting on an auction in the Arboretum’s Palm Room.
—Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In this spooky play, five high school theater students are putting on an educational show about the dangers of drinking and driving by re-creating a deadly car crash.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters' birthday is Saturday, and in his memory his eldest son is putting on a concert in Chicago.
—Zak Spector, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Real America’s Music is putting on a show.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
On his proper introduction, Nett seems keen to fashion himself in the mold of new-wave rage stars like Che and Osamason, burning his low-end to a crisp and putting on his best Keef squeak.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Which was why, at the very end, when Gordon tuned in on the wireless to a dance band and Robert was supposed to waltz Olwyn about the room, Stella had no patience with St Ives’s reaction to Geoffrey’s ten-second delay in putting on the gramophone record.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putting on
Verb
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The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Flopping and exaggerating contact is different.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Herbert's not going through the motions and pretending to be a relationship with a pop singer like some aging tight end.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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Washington state’s House Bill 2225, due to come into effect in January 2027, will explicitly ban manipulative techniques such as excessive praise, pretending to feel distress, encouraging isolation from family, or creating overdependent relationships.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Fortunately the wig has had a second outing with Fouracres donning it again in Episode 7, when his parody Attenborough turned up to wrestle a discontented rhino during Weekend Update.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Lycra Adaptiv also offers inclusive sizing, easy donning and doffing and reduced concentrated compression to minimize skin irritation.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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That point was acknowledged immediately with the title track – not played since 2009 – opening the show as motion-simulating video tilted and zipped through a vibrant carnival.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Separate tests examined how the thermal protection system performs when its surface is damaged, simulating impacts from debris or micrometeoroids.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
One defendant is accused of assuming the identity of at least four residents in Maryland with the fraudulent intent to obtain payments valued at over $1,500 that were disbursed from the state’s Medicaid program.—
Brendan Nordstrom,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
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The diagrams of passengers pulling out floatation devices and assuming crash position were presented with a crisp, legible aesthetic similar to the look of Ikezoe’s paintings.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Putting on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putting%20on. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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