put

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

1》 move to or place in a particular position.

2》 bring into a particular state or condition: they tried to put me at ease.

    ↘express in a particular way: to put it bluntly, he was not really divorced.

3》 (put something on/on to) cause to carry or be subject to something: commentators put the blame on Congress.

    ↘assign a particular value, figure, or limit to.

4》 (of a ship) proceed in a particular direction: the boat put out to sea.

5》 throw (a shot or weight) as an athletic sport.

noun a throw of the shot or weight.

Phrases

put someone's eyes out blind someone in a violent way.

put one's hands together applaud.

put one's hands up raise one's hands in surrender.

put one over on informal deceive (someone) into accepting something false.

put up or shut up informal justify oneself or remain silent.

Phrasal verbs

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

put someone about chiefly Scottish & N. English upset or trouble someone.

put something about Brit. spread information or rumours.

put something aside (or by) save money for future use.

put someone away informal confine someone in a prison or psychiatric hospital.

put something away

1》 save money for future use.

2》 informal consume food or drink in large quantities.

put someone down informal criticize someone.

put something down

1》 suppress a rebellion or riot by force.

2》 kill an animal because it is sick, injured, or old.

3》 pay a specified sum as a deposit.

4》 preserve or store food or wine for future use.

put something down to attribute something to.

put someone off

1》 cancel or postpone an appointment with someone.

2》 cause someone to feel dislike or lose enthusiasm.

3》 distract someone.

put something off postpone something.

put someone on informal try to make someone believe something that is untrue.

put something on

1》 place a garment on part of one's body.

2》 present or provide a play, service, etc.

3》 become heavier by a specified amount.

4》 assume a particular expression, accent, etc.

put someone on to draw someone's attention to.

put out N. Amer. informal agree to have sex with someone.

put someone out inconvenience, upset, or annoy someone.

put something out

1》 dislocate a joint.

2》 (of an engine or motor) produce a particular amount of power.

put something over N. Amer. postpone something.

put someone through

1》 subject someone to a gruelling or unpleasant experience.

2》 connect someone by telephone to another person or place.

3》 pay for one's child to attend school or college.

put something to

1》 submit something to (someone) for consideration.

    ↘(put it to) make a statement or allegation to (someone) and challenge them to deny it.

2》 couple an animal with (another of the opposite sex) for breeding.

put someone up

1》 accommodate someone temporarily.

2》 propose someone for election or adoption.

put something up

1》 present something for discussion or consideration.

2》 publish banns.

3》 provide money as backing for an enterprise.

4》 offer something for sale or auction.

5》 offer a specified degree of resistance or skill in a fight or contest.

6》 cause game to rise from cover.

7》 archaic return a sword to its sheath.

be put upon informal be taken advantage of.

put someone up to informal encourage someone to do (something wrong or unwise).

put up with tolerate; endure.

Origin

OE, of unknown origin; cf. dialect pote 'to push, thrust' (an early sense of put).