Definition of put in Oxford Dictionaries (US English)

put about

Nautical (of a ship) turn on the opposite tack.

put something about

(often be put about) spread information or rumors.

put something across (or over)

communicate something effectively.

put something aside

1save money for future use.

2forget or disregard something, typically a feeling or a past difference.

put someone away

(often be put away) informal confine someone in a prison or psychiatric hospital:he deserves to be put away forever

put something away

1save money for future use.

2 informal consume food or drink in large quantities.

3another way of saying put something down below.

4 informal (in sports) dispatch or deal with a goal or shot.

put something back

reschedule a planned event to a later time or date.

delay something:greater public control may put back the modernization of the industry

put something by

another way of saying put something aside.

put someone down

1 informal lower someone’s self-esteem by criticizing them in front of others.

2lay a baby down to sleep.

put something down

1record something in writing:he’s putting a few thoughts down on paper

2suppress a rebellion, riot, or other disturbance by force.

3 (usually be put down) kill an animal because it is sick, injured, or old.

4pay a specified sum as a deposit:he put a thousand down and paid the rest over six months

5preserve or store food or wine for future use.

6 (also put down) land an aircraft.

put someone down as

consider or judge someone or something to be:I’d have put you down as a Vivaldi man

put something down to

attribute something to:if I forget anything, put it down to old age

put someone forward

recommend someone as a suitable candidate for a job or position:he put me forward as head of publicity

put something forward

submit a plan, proposal, or theory for consideration.

put in

[with direct speech] interrupt a conversation or discussion:“But you’re a sybarite, Roger,” put in Isobel

put in at/into

(of a ship) enter (a port or harbor).

put someone in

appoint someone to fulfill a particular role or job:he was put in to rescue the company by the stockbrokers

(in team sports) send a player out to participate into a game.

put something in/into

1present or submit something formally:the airport had put in a claim for damages
(put in for) apply formally for:Adam put in for six months' leave

2devote time or effort to something:employed mothers put in the longest hours of all women

3invest money or resources in.

put someone off

1cancel or postpone an appointment with someone:he’d put off Martin until nine o’clock

2cause someone to lose interest or enthusiasm:she wanted to be a nurse, but the thought of night shifts put her off
cause someone to feel dislike or distrust:she had a coldness that just put me off

3distract someone:you’re just trying to put me off my game

put something off

postpone something:they can’t put off a decision much longer

put someone on

informal deceive or hoax someone.

put something on

1place a garment, glasses, or jewelry on part of one’s body:Julie had put on a cotton dress
attach or apply something:she put on fresh makeup

2cause a device to operate:shall I put the light on?
start cooking something:she was moaning that he hadn’t put the dinner on
play recorded music or a video.

3organize or present a play, exhibition, or event.
provide a public transportation service:so many people wanted to visit this spot that an extra flight had to be put on

4add a specified amount to (the cost of something):the news put 12 cents on the share price
increase in body weight; become heavier by a specified amount:she’s given up her diet and put on 20 lbs

5assume a particular expression, accent, etc.:he put on a lugubrious look
behave deceptively:she doesn’t feel she has to put on an act

6bet a specified amount of money on:he put $1,000 on the horse to win

put someone on to

draw someone’s attention to (someone or something useful, notable, or interesting):Pike put me on to the department’s legal section

put out

North American vulgar slang be willing to have sexual intercourse.

put someone out

1cause someone trouble or inconvenience:would it put you out too much to let her visit you for a couple of hours?
(often be put out) upset or annoy someone:he was not put out by the rebuff

2(in sports) defeat a player or team and so cause them to be out of a competition.

3make someone unconscious, typically by means of drugs or an anesthetic.

put something out

1extinguish something that is burning:firefighters from Georgetown put out the blaze
turn off a light.

2lay something out ready for use:she put out glasses and paper napkins

3issue or broadcast something:a limited-edition single was put out to promote the album

4dislocate a joint:she fell off her horse and put her shoulder out

5(of a company) allocate work to a contractor or freelancer to be done off the premises.

6(of an engine or motor) produce a particular amount of power:the new motor is expected to put out about 250 h.p.

put something over

1another way of saying put something across .

2North American postpone something:let’s put the case over for a few weeks

put someone through

1connect someone by telephone to another person or place:put me through to the mayor, please

2subject someone to an unpleasant or demanding experience:I hate Brian for what he put me through

3pay for someone to attend school or college.

put something through

initiate something and see it through to a successful conclusion:he put through a reform program to try to save the regime

put someone to

cause inconvenience or difficulty to someone:I don’t want to put you to any trouble

put something to

1submit something to (someone) for consideration or attention:we are making a takeover bid and putting an offer to the shareholders

2devote something to (a particular use or purpose):they put the land to productive use

put something together

make something by assembling different parts or people:he can take a clock apart and put it back together again they decided to put a new band together

assemble things or people to make something:a carpenter puts together shaped pieces of wood to make a table

put someone under

another way of saying put someone out.

put up

1offer or show (a particular degree of resistance, effort, or skill) in a fight or competitive situation:he put up a brave fight

2stay temporarily in lodgings other than one’s own home:we put up at a hotel in the city center

put someone up

1accommodate someone temporarily.

2propose someone for election or adoption:they should have put themselves up for election

put something up

1construct or erect something:I put up the tent and cooked a meal

2raise one’s hand to signal that one wishes to answer or ask a question.

3display a notice, sign, or poster.
present a proposal, theory, or argument for discussion or consideration.

4chiefly British increase the cost of something:I’m afraid I’ve got to put your rent up

5provide money as backing for an enterprise:the sponsors are putting up $5,000 for the event

6 (often be put up for) offer something for sale or auction.

7 archaic return a sword to its sheath.

put upon

(often as adjective put-upon) informal take advantage of (someone) by exploiting their good nature:a put-upon drudge who slaved for her employer

put someone up to

informal encourage someone to do (something wrong or unwise):Who else would play a trick like that on me? I expect Rose put him up to it

put up with

tolerate; endure:I’m too tired to put up with any nonsense

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verb (puts, putting; past and past participle put)

noun

Phrases

put something behind one

put the clocks back (or forward)

put someone's eyes out

put one's hands together

put one's hands up

put it there

put it to

put one over on

put up or shut up

Phrasal Verbs