26984 words

puts

25 definitions • 90 examples
1
to move something or someone into the stated place, position, or direction:

Examples:

Where have you put the keys?
Put your clothes in the cupboard.
He put salt into the sugar bowl by mistake.
She put her bag on the table.
She put her hands over her eyes.
I put my arm around him to comfort him.
We always put the cat out (= outside the house) at night.
Every night, she puts out her clothes (= takes them from where they are kept so that they are ready) for the next day.
If we put the chairs a little closer together (= move them nearer to each other), we should be able to get another one around the table.
If you put together (= mix) yellow and blue paint you get green.
The prisoners were put up against (= moved into a position next to) a wall and shot.
2
to write something:

Examples:

She puts her name in all her books.
Put an X next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for.
I've put the date of the party down in my diary.
He asked me to put my objections (down) on paper.
It was an interesting article but I wish they'd put in more information (= included more information) about the costs.
3
to express something in words:

Examples:

She wanted to tell him that she didn't want to see him any more, but she didn't know how to put it.
We're going to have to work very hard, but as Chris so succinctly put it, there's no gain without pain.
Why do you always have to put things so crudely?
Has everyone had a chance to put their point of view?
4
to say what you think the price or value of something is:

Examples:

The agent has put a price of £720,000 on our house.
5
used to describe the way you are expressing an event or opinion:

Examples:

To put it bluntly, you're going to have to improve.
6
to cause someone or something to be in the stated condition or situation:

Examples:

Are you prepared to put your children at risk?
This puts me in a very difficult position.
What has put you in such a bad mood?
This election is a chance for the country to put a new government in (= elect a new government).
It's broken into so many pieces, it'll be impossible to put it back together again (= repair it).
Let's give her the chance to put her ideas into practice.
The terrorists were put on trial (= their case was judged in a court of law) six years after the bombing.
Wilson was put out (of the competition) (= was defeated) by Clarke in the second round.
[ + adj ] How much did it cost to have the television put right (= repaired)?
I originally thought he was Australian, but he soon put me straight (= corrected me) and explained he was from New Zealand.
I know she's gone forever, but I just can't put her out of my mind/head (= forget her).
He's putting me under pressure to change my mind.
7
to bring into operation; to cause to be used:

Examples:

When the drugs failed to cure her, she put her faith/trust in herbal medicine.
The school puts a lot of emphasis on teaching children to read and write.
He's putting pressure on me to change my mind.
The events of the last few weeks have put a real strain on him.
In the story of Sleeping Beauty, the wicked fairy puts a spell/curse (US hex) on the baby princess.
You know it was your fault, so don't try to put the blame on anyone else.
The government is expected to put a new tax on cars.
The new tax will put 15 percent on fuel prices (= increase them by 15 percent).
She's never put a bet/money on a race before.
He put everything he had into (= he used all his abilities and strength in) the final game.
The more you put into something, the more you get out of it (= the harder you work at something, the more satisfying it is).
They put (= invested) a lot of money into the family business.
The president is trying to put through (= bring into operation) reforms of the country's economic system.
They've got to put an end to/a stop to their fighting (= to stop fighting).
8
to judge something or someone in comparison with other similar things or people:

Examples:

I'd put him among the top six tennis players of all time.
Drama critics have put her on a level/par with the great Shakespearean actresses.
He always puts the needs of his family first/last (= they are the most/least important thing to him).
9
to travel in a boat or ship across the sea:

Examples:

Our mast broke, so we had to put about (= turn round) and return to port.
The ship put in at (= stopped at) Cape Town for fresh supplies.
We put to sea (= began our journey by sea) at dawn.
10
to move something or someone into the stated place, position, or direction:

Examples:

She put her arm around him.
Put your clothes in the closet.
When you set the table, put the soup spoons next to the knives.
She put her coffee cup on the table.
The movie was so scary that she put her hands over her eyes.
11
If you put someone to bed, you dress the person in the clothes worn for sleeping and see that the person gets into bed:

Examples:

I’ll call back after I put the kids to bed.
12
to write down or record:

Examples:

Put your name on the list if you want to go.
Put an answer in the space provided.
13
to express something in words:

Examples:

She wanted to tell him that she didn’t want to see him any more, but she didn’t know how to put it.
He has difficulty putting his feelings into words.
14
If you put something in a particular way, you express it that way:

Examples:

To put it bluntly, Pete, you’re just no good at the job.
Dad was annoyed, to put it mildly.
15
to cause something to be in the stated condition or situation:

Examples:

Are you prepared to put your children at risk?
This puts me in a very difficult position.
What put you in such a bad mood?
16
to judge something or someone in comparison with other similar things or people:

Examples:

I’d put him among the top six tennis players of all time.
The value of the painting has been put at $1.5 million.
He always puts his family first.
17
to move something into a particular place:

Examples:

Can you put the file on my desk when you've finished with it, please?
We put the money in the safe at the end of each day.
18
to write down or record information:

Examples:

Put your full name at the top of the form.
It's a good report, but you haven't put in anything about the costs.
You can save a lot of time and effort by putting your accounts on a computer.
19
to express something in words:

Examples:

I hate these designs, but I don't know how to put it in a tactful way.
We're going to have to work very hard, but as Chris so succinctly put it, there's no gain without pain.
20
to cause someone or something to be in a particular condition or situation:

Examples:

put sb in a difficult/awkward/embarrassing, etc. position This puts me in a very difficult position.
put sth into effect/practice Let's give her the chance to put her ideas into practice.
I don't know what the problem is, but we have two days to put it right.
put sb under pressure/strain/stress He put me under pressure to change my mind.
put sb out of business/work/a job Unemployment benefits for those put out of work have been extended for six months.
21
to officially begin using something:

Examples:

The government is expected to put a new tax on cars.
The government put through a law requiring equal access to buildings for disabled people.
22
to judge something or someone in comparison with other similar things or people:

Examples:

put sb/sth among sb/sth His four-year deal put him among the country's highest earners.
put sb/sth first/tenth/50th, etc. Washington's quarterly rate of one foreclosure for every 436 households put it 21st among states.
23
to say what you think the price or value of something is:

Examples:

They've put a price of €2 million on the factory.
24
to express something in a particular way:

Examples:

To put it bluntly, you're going to have to improve.
25
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