put

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To move something into a particular place or position.

   Grammar: Needs an object and a place: put the keys on the table.

   Patterns

   • put something somewhere
   • put something in something
   • put something on something

   Please put your coat on the hook by the door.

   She put the cake in the oven and set a timer.

   I put my phone in my bag and left.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To cause someone or something to be in a certain state or situation.

   Grammar: Followed by an object and into, at or under: put someone at ease.

   Patterns

   • put someone at ease
   • put something at risk
   • put someone in a mood

   The news put him in a good mood for the whole day.

   Cutting the budget put the project at risk.

   His kind words put everyone at ease.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To express something in words in a certain way.

   Grammar: Often used with an adverb: put it simply, put it another way.

   Patterns

   • put something simply
   • put something into words

   To put it simply, we ran out of money.

   She put her objections politely but firmly.

   I can't put my feelings into words.

4. 4verbtransitiveformal

   To direct a question, idea or proposal to someone so that they can respond.

   Grammar: Often used with to: put a question to the speaker.

   Patterns

   • put something to someone

   The reporter put a difficult question to the minister.

   They put the proposal to a vote.

5. 5verbtransitive

   To assign a value, amount or rank to something, as an estimate.

   Grammar: Used with at, in or on: put the cost at ten thousand dollars.

   Patterns

   • put something at something

   Officials put the damage at two million dollars.

   I would put her among the best teachers I have known.

Word forms

Common combinations

put at risk

Late payments could put your credit score at risk.

put an end to

The new law put an end to the practice.

put effort into

She put real effort into the project.

put pressure on

The deadline put pressure on the whole team.

put it simply

Put simply, the system does not work.

put to use

We put the old garage to use as a workshop.

Synonyms and how they differ

place

Place is slightly more careful and formal than put, which can be quick and casual.

set

Set suggests putting something down in a specific, steady position, while put is more general.

lay

Lay means to put something down flat, often gently, whereas put has no such restriction.

express

Express is a better fit than put when speaking of words, and is more formal.

Opposites

Word family

putting verb

the -ing form of put

output noun

the amount something produces

input noun

what is put into a system or process

Commonly confused: put or putt?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “put”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words