put

verb transitive

UK /pʊt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	put
he/she/it	puts
present participle	putting
past tense	put
past participle	put

1
to move something to a particular position, especially using your hands
She put her hand on Cliff’s arm.
put something in/on/through etc something:
Did I put my wallet in your bag?
Where did you put the newspaper?
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to put something somewhere
put
place
position
1. 1a
  to kick or hit something into a particular position
  put something into/out/over etc something:
  Jones put the ball into the net after only 2 minutes of play.
  Synonyms and related words
  To hit an object
  punch
  thump
  knock
  Synonyms and related words
  To kick or hit a ball in a game or sport
  strike at
  kick
  play
2
to cause someone or something to be in a particular situation or state
A great goal put Liverpool ahead.
put someone in a difficult/awkward/embarrassing position:
I wish you hadn’t told me – it puts me in a really difficult position.
put someone/something at risk/in jeopardy/in danger:
Several jobs have been put in jeopardy as a result of the merger.
put someone in charge/control/command (of someone/something):
She was put in charge of the marketing department.
put someone under pressure/strain/stress (=make someone feel worried and unable to relax):
I hate being put under so much pressure.
put someone to work:
He was put to work filing all the papers.
put someone out of business/out of work/out of a job (=make them lose their job or business):
Supermarkets have put many smaller shops out of business.
put someone in a good/bad mood (=make someone feel happy/annoyed):
That argument put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
put something into practice/effect/action/operation etc (=make it start working):
There has been a lot of criticism of the way the proposals were put into effect.
put someone at a disadvantage:
The law puts farmers in this country at a disadvantage.
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect
shape
impact
affect
3
to write or print something
Put a tick by the correct answer.
I’ll put a note at the bottom of the card.
I’ll put it in my diary.
You’ve put the comma in the wrong place.
Synonyms and related words
To write something
write
set down
compose
4
to make someone go to a place
put someone in/on/to something:
We’ve had to put my mother in a nursing home.
If we put the kids in one room, Jean can sleep in Adam’s room.
The government has promised to put more police officers on the street.
What time do you put the kids to bed?
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere with someone or something
come
drive
walk
5
to say or write something in a particular way
put something cleverly/succinctly/well:
She put it very well when she described him as ‘brilliant but lazy’.
Synonyms and related words
To say something in a particular way
chirp
chorus
come on strong
6
to build or place something somewhere
put something in/on etc something:
There are plans to put ten new houses on the site.
We decided to put the office upstairs.
Synonyms and related words
To build something, or to be built
build
erect
put together
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to put something somewhere
put
place
position
7
to give someone or something a particular position on a list arranged according to importance, quality, or value
put someone/something among/as/in something:
I’d put Monet among the best artists of the century.
They’re so different, you can’t even put them in the same category.
Synonyms and related words
To make a list, or to add something to a list
register
detail
index
8
to state or explain something
You will get plenty of opportunity to put your point of view.
Synonyms and related words
To make something easier to understand
explain
define
put across
9
to throw a heavy metal ball called a shot as a sport
He put the shot for the United States in the last three Olympic Games.
Synonyms and related words
Athletics and track and field sports
the AAA
athlete
athletic

phrases

as someone puts it

how shall I put it?/let me put it this way

I couldn’t have put it better myself

not know where to put yourself

put someone/something before/over/above

put something behind you

put someone/something first

put your name/signature to something

put a price/value etc on something

put simply/simply put

put a stop/end to something

put someone straight/right (on/about something)

put someone on a train/plane/bus etc

put something into words

put something in writing

put yourself in someone’s place/position

to put it another way

to put it bluntly

to put it in a nutshell

to put it mildly

phrasal verbs

put about

put across

put around/round

put aside

put at

put away

put back

put before

put by

put down

put down as

put down for

put down to

put forth

put forward

put in

put in for

put into

put off

put on

put onto

put out

put over

put round

put through

put to

put together

put towards

put under

put up

put up to

put up with

put ​‌‌‌

put ​‌‌‌

put

put