(puts, putting)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: The form 'put' is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 'Put' is used in a large number of expressions which are explained under other words in this dictionary. For example, the expression 'to put someone in the picture' is explained at 'picture'.
1.
When you put something in a particular place or position, you move it into that place or position.
Leaphorn put the photograph on the desk...
She hesitated, then put her hand on Grace's arm...
Mishka put down a heavy shopping bag.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V n with adv
2.
If you put someone somewhere, you cause them to go there and to stay there for a period of time.
Rather than put him in the hospital, she had been caring for him at home...
I'd put the children to bed.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
3.
To put someone or something in a particular state or situation means to cause them to be in that state or situation.
This is going to put them out of business...
He was putting himself at risk...
My doctor put me in touch with a psychiatrist...
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
4.
To put something on people or things means to cause them to have it, or to cause them to be affected by it.
The ruling will put extra pressure on health authorities to change working practices and shorten hours...
They will also force schools to put more emphasis on teaching basic subjects.
= place
VERB: V n on n, V n on n
5.
If you put your trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something, you trust them or have faith or confidence in them.
How much faith should we put in anti-ageing products?
= place
VERB: V n in n
6.
If you put time, strength, or energy into an activity, you use it in doing that activity.
Eleanor did not put much energy into the discussion.
VERB: V n into n/-ing
7.
If you put money into a business or project, you invest money in it.
Investors should consider putting some money into an annuity...
VERB: V n into n
8.
When you put an idea or remark in a particular way, you express it in that way. You can use expressions like to put it simply and to put it bluntly before saying something when you want to explain how you are going to express it.
I had already met Pete a couple of times through-how should I put it-friends in low places...
He doesn't, to put it very bluntly, give a damn about the woman or the baby...
He admitted the security forces might have made some mistakes, as he put it...
You can't put that sort of fear into words.
VERB: V it adv/prep, V it adv/prep, V it, V n into n
9.
When you put a question to someone, you ask them the question.
Is this fair. Well, I put that question today to Deputy Counsel Craig Gillen...
He thinks that some workers may be afraid to put questions publicly.
VERB: V n to n, V n adv
10.
If you put a case, opinion, or proposal, you explain it and list the reasons why you support or believe it.
He always put his point of view with clarity and with courage...
He put the case to the Saudi Foreign Minister...
= present
VERB: V n, V n to n
11.
If you put something at a particular value or in a particular category, you consider that it has that value or that it belongs in that category.
I would put her age at about 50 or so...
All the more technically advanced countries put a high value on science...
It is not easy to put the guilty and innocent into clear-cut categories.
VERB: V n at amount, V n on n, V n into n
12.
If you put written information somewhere, you write, type, or print it there.
Mary's family were so pleased that they put an announcement in the local paper to thank them...
He crossed out 'Screenplay' and put 'Written by' instead.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n
13.
If you put it to someone that something is true, you suggest that it is true, especially when you think that they will be unwilling to admit this.
But I put it to you that they're useless...
PHRASE: V inflects
14.
If you say that something is bigger or better than several other things put together, you mean that it is bigger or has more good qualities than all of those other things if they are added together.
London has more pubs and clubs than the rest of the country put together.
PHRASE: n PHR