put

1 of 3

verb

put; putting

transitive verb

1
a
: to place in a specified position or relationship : lay
put the book on the table
b
: to move in a specified direction
c(1)
: to send (something, such as a weapon or missile) into or through something : thrust
(2)
: to throw with an overhand pushing motion
put the shot
d
: to bring into a specified state or condition
a reapportionment … that was put into effect at the September primariesCurrent Biography
e
: to prescribe a specified regimen for
usually used with on
put her on medication
put him on a diet
2
a
: to cause to endure or suffer something : subject
put traitors to death
b
: impose, inflict
put a special tax on luxuries
3
a
: to set before one for judgment or decision
put the question
b
: to call for a formal vote on
put the motion
4
a(1)
: to convey into another form
want to put my feelings into words
(2)
: to translate into another language or style
put the poem into English
(3)
: adapt
lyrics put to music
b
: express, state
putting it mildly
5
a
: to devote (oneself) to an activity or end
put himself to winning back their confidence
b
: apply
put her mind to the problem
c
: assign
put them to work
d
: to cause to perform an action : urge
put the horse over the fence
e
: impel, incite
put them into a frenzy
6
a
: repose, rest
puts his faith in reason
b
: invest entry 1 sense 1
put her money in the company
7
a
: to give as an estimate
put the time as about eleven
b
: attach, attribute
puts a high value on their friendship
c
: impute
put the blame on the partners
8
: bet, wager
put $2 on the favorite

intransitive verb

1
: to start in motion : go
especially : to leave in a hurry
2
of a ship : to take a specified course
put down the river

put

2 of 3

noun

1
: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion
specifically : the act or an instance of putting the shot
2
: an option to sell a specified amount of a security (such as a stock) or commodity (such as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time compare call sense 3d

put

3 of 3

adjective

: being in place : fixed, set
stay put until I call
Phrases
put forth
1
b
: to make public : issue
2
: to bring into action : exert
3
: to produce or send out by growth
put forth leaves
4
: to start out
put forward
: propose
put forward a theory
put in mind
: remind
put one's finger on
: identify
put his finger on the cause of the trouble
put one's foot down
: to take a firm stand
put one's foot in one's mouth
: to make a tactless or embarrassing blunder
put paid to
chiefly British
: to finish off : bring an end to
put the arm on or put the bite on
: to ask for money
put the finger on
: to inform on
put the finger on … heroin pushersBarrie Zwicker
put the make on
: to make sexual advances toward
put to bed
: to make the final preparations for printing (something, such as a newspaper)
put together
1
: to create as a unified whole : construct
2

Examples of put in a Sentence

Verb Put the car in the garage. I put the keys on the table. He put his arms around her and held her tight. He fell and accidentally put his hand through a window. The illness put her in the hospital for three days. They put her in prison for forgery. Her parents decided to put her in a special school for deaf children. If she drove 55 mph for 20 minutes, that would put her about halfway there by now. Don't forget to put your signature on the check. He put his phone number on a napkin.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Norwegian actor Danielsen Lie is presumably putting a kind of twang on his normal speaking voice. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024 Fragile items can shatter, and anything that’s innately sharp will put whoever is sifting through the box in jeopardy. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024
Noun
This involves buying a higher strike put and simultaneously selling a lower strike put, resulting in a net debit. Nishant Pant, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024 The two most active contracts were the January $30 puts and December $30 puts. Michael Khouw, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The value of the put contracts will increase if the S & P 500 falls on a surprising resurgence of inflation. Yun Li, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2024 That’s put pressure on the company’s margins, with net profit falling 55% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 29 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for put 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'put.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English putten; akin to Old English putung instigation, Middle Dutch poten to plant

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of put was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near put

Cite this Entry

“Put.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

put

1 of 3 verb
put; putting
1
a
: to place in or move into a position or relationship
put the book down
b
: to throw with an overhand pushing motion
put the shot
c
: to bring into a state or condition
put it to use
put the matter right
put us at risk
2
a
: to cause to undergo something
was put to death
b
: impose sense 1a
put a special tax on luxuries
3
: to set before one for judgment or decision (as by a formal vote)
put the motion
4
: express entry 4 sense 1a
put your feelings into words
5
a
: to devote or urge to an activity or end
put them to work
b
: invest entry 2 sense 1
put our money in the company
6
a
: estimate entry 1 sense 1
put the time at about eleven
b
: attach sense 5
puts a high value on friendship
7
: go entry 1 sense 1, proceed
the ship put to sea

put

2 of 3 noun
: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

put

3 of 3 adjective
: fixed sense 1a, set
stay put until I come back

Legal Definition

put

noun
: put option at option 3

More from Merriam-Webster on put

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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