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put

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verb [transitive] American English pronunciation: put /pʊt/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyput
he/she/itputs
present participleputting
past tenseput
past participleput
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 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 purse?

    Where did you put the newspaper?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
    1. a.
      to kick or hit something into a particular position
      put something into/out/over etc. something:

      Jones put the puck into the net after only 2 minutes of play.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  2. 2
    to cause someone or something to be in a particular situation or state

    Esposito's goal put the Bruins 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/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 stores 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  3. 3
    to write or print something

    Put a check mark 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  4. 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?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  5. 5
    to give someone or something a particular position on a list arranged according to importance, quality, or value

    They're so different, you can't even put them in the same category.

    put someone/something among/as/in something:

    I'd put Monet among the best artists of the century.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  6. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  7. 7
    to say or write something in a particular way
    put something well/succinctly/cleverly:

    She put it very well when she described him as "brilliant but lazy."

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put
  8. 8
    to state or explain something

    You will get plenty of opportunity to put your point of view.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put

phrases

This is the American English definition of put. View British English definition of put.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for put.

 

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