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to put

to put

∞ 1.4
Say or write something in a particular way
  • verb
  • /pʊt/
: expresar
  • The teacher asked the students to put their ideas into a clear report.
  • put forward
  • put simply
  • put another way

There's things that we can put out there to hide and mask.

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Examples

  • During the meeting, she put her thoughts on the table for discussion.

  • Thank you for the opportunity to put this matter on record.

  • The purpose is to get students to put ideas down on paper quickly and accurately.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Data obtained as a result of this study were put into tables through statistical analysis.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Making these programs more effective will require putting them at arm's length from the bureaucracy.

    Academic text (2011)
  • One student said, "I found out I could put olive oil on my toothache."

    Academic text (2015)
  • If you want to put a record on, Mr Newton, music doesn't disturb me.

  • In a note to his partners threatening suicide, he put it bluntly: "I am a fool."

    Academic text (2017)
  • He plans to put his skills to good use by starting a new project.

Synonyms

to set up
vsto put
∞ 2.7

To assemble and prepare equipment or objects so they are ready to use

focuses on expression or arrangement in form, not physical assembly
to set
vsto put
∞ 1.0

To take place in a particular time or place

is about expressing or shaping content rather than only physical placement
to arrange
vsto put
112 1.7

To put things or information in a clear, neat order

is about expressing or shaping content, not limited to ordering items
to frame
vsto put
105 3.9

To make the main structure and details of a plan or idea

focuses on expressing or arranging content rather than designing structure
to put down
vsto put
57 2.4

To write something so you do not forget it

is about expressing or arranging in a chosen form, not merely recording
to set forth
vsto put
  • Formal
36 4.2

To state something clearly in writing or speech

is less formal and covers expression or arrangement in many forms
to order
vsto put
17 1.0

To put things in a neat sequence

covers expressing or forming things, not only logical sequencing
to couch
vsto put
  • Formal
13 7.2

To say something in a careful or polite way

is broader, covering any way of stating or arranging content
to put over
vsto put
  • UK
1 3.7

To explain an idea so people understand it

is a general way to express or arrange, not only ensuring understanding

Antonyms

To make something messy or not in the right order

Idioms

To challenge people or things in hard situations to show their ability

To say that someone said something when they did not

20 2.8

To earn enough money to support yourself or your family

16 3.8

Figure out what happened from obvious facts

To keep moving forward step by step despite problems

Show support by giving money or doing something to help

8 7.7

Tell someone to do what they say or stop talking

Tell someone to be quiet

To force someone to do something by threatening them

To be completely open and honest about your plans or feelings

To drive or work as fast as possible, often to finish something

To do things in the wrong order

To say the same idea in another way

To say or do something embarrassing by accident

Make someone feel tougher or more manly, often said as a joke

Risk all your money or chances on one plan

Offer money for catching or killing a person

Make people very afraid and make them respect you by showing power

To try to undo something you cannot change

2 8.3

Unable to manage easily because you have little money or help

To gain weight and become healthier after being thin or sick

Arrange your personal, money, and legal matters before illness or death

Accept this fact even if you do not like it

1 8.4

To make small changes to something bad so it looks better without fixing the real problem

1 9.9

Act in a showy way to impress people

Stop arguing and agree to work together

put her there
  • Archaic
1 9.8

Hold out your hand to ask for a friendly handshake

To make someone angry or ready to argue

Try to make things the way they were after they changed

Imagine being in the other person's place to understand them better

1 7.4

Act confident and serious to hide nerves before a challenge

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

To give someone money or a job so they can live

To be ordinary like other people

Tell someone about an idea so they will think about it later

To cause a plan to fail or have big problems

1 8.2

Make facts clear by showing proof

to put foot to ass
  • Offensive
9.9

Take strong action to make someone work or change

To work as hard as you can, often more than expected

To take a big risk to help another person or group

Make a very good impression when you meet someone or start something new

7.8

To try as hard as possible to do something

To say something embarrassing without meaning to

To say you want to be chosen for a job or position

To start working very hard to reach a goal

Imagine being in another person's situation to understand their feelings

To yell at or threaten someone to make them try harder

To give money willingly, often when it is not needed

To focus all your attention and effort on achieving something

To support your words by giving money or doing work

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

To say something sharp to hurt or criticize someone

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.7

Place something inside another thing or space

∞ 1.7

To add something to a building to make it larger

∞ 1.0

To dress yourself in clothes or wear things like makeup

∞ 1.0

To lower something from your hands onto a surface

∞ 2.8

To make something by joining parts, like a model, plan or team

886 1.0

Return something to the place where it was before

716 3.6

Publish something like a book or magazine for people to buy

367 2.5

Install something so it stays in place and is ready to use

362 2.0

To place something in its usual place for storage

359 2.9

To spend time, effort, or care on work

313 2.4

Place a sign or notice so people can see it

279 2.8

To organize and present an event or show

270 3.0

Build something like a wall or sign

265 4.3

To accept something unpleasant without complaining

181 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

151 3.4

To stop thinking about something for a short time

147 5.8

To lock someone in prison or a secure place

129 2.9

Delay something until a later time

To make something stop completely

to stay put
  • Informal
126 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

104 3.4

Offer strong resistance, for example by fighting

Risk something important, like money, life, or reputation

Make someone or something start working by giving tasks

To suggest an idea or plan for others to consider

73 5.8

Cause someone trouble by making things difficult for them

72 3.2

Make a formal request or application for something like a job

68 3.0

To start music or a recording so people can hear it

to put on
  • Informal
65 7.2

To trick someone, often as a joke

63 2.2

To gain weight and become heavier

to put down
  • Offensive
62 4.9

To make someone feel unimportant by saying bad things about them

62 6.3

Cause a person or animal to become unconscious, often using medicine

To end something so it no longer happens

58 3.7

Give money needed for a purpose

to put up to
  • Informal
57 6.8

To persuade someone to do something they would not do on their own

57 2.4

To write something so you do not forget it

54 3.7

Make someone not want to do something

to put under
  • Specialized
54 6.0

Give someone medicine to make them unconscious before an operation

to put to death
  • Offensive
52 7.6

To kill someone as a legal punishment

52 3.6

To fix a mistake or problem and return things to normal

To stop someone's suffering or worry, sometimes by ending their life

To connect someone on the phone to the person or service they want

45 3.4

Hold a part of your body away from you, like a hand

38 5.5

To kill an animal to stop its suffering

To make a place, product, or person well known for the first time

35 3.2

To send someone to a hospital for treatment because of illness or injury

34 5.3

Force someone to answer or act without time to prepare when they feel uncomfortable

33 3.5

Offer something for sale at an auction

to put up
  • Informal
32 3.3

Let someone stay in your home for a short time

Send a person to prison as punishment

to put out
  • Offensive
31 9.9

Agree to have sex, usually said about a woman

29 2.2

Raise your hand to show you want to speak or answer

To help someone see how important something really is by comparing it with other things or giving background

to put to sleep
  • Baby Talk
26 2.5

Help a child or baby fall asleep in bed

22 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

21 4.7

Finish something completely so no more work is needed

19 1.8

To place food or a kettle on a heat source to cook it

18 4.0

Suggest someone as a candidate for a position or award

To use an idea or plan in a real situation

14 6.0

Admire someone so much you think they are perfect

13 5.8

Make something less fun or exciting

13 5.0

Make a lot of effort to do something

To slow down an activity or stop it

to put in a box
  • Informal
12 7.2

Treat someone as only one type and ignore their other skills

12 6.4

To stop something from continuing or becoming known

11 8.6

Try to attract someone by flirting or making sexual advances

To make a plan or change happen

11 4.1

To try hard to do something

10 4.2

To start living in one place for a long time and make it your home

to put it past
  • Informal
9 7.5

Think someone might do something bad or surprising

to put out
  • Specialized
9 7.3

Make someone sleep so they do not feel pain during an operation

Reserve a place for someone in an event, for example a class

To delay dealing with something until later and make it less important

To say that something happened because of a particular reason

Compounds

put-down
  • Offensive
9 6.6

A remark that makes someone feel small or embarrassed

6 2.7

A track and field event where athletes throw a heavy metal ball as far as possible

4 7.2

Other people make someone do more than is fair

put-on
  • Informal
4 7.5

A false act or story that tries to trick people, often to make them laugh

put option
  • Specialized
4 8.3

A contract that gives you the choice to sell an investment at a fixed price within a set time

put-up
  • Informal
2 8.1

Arranged secretly to make something look real but trick people

put-up job
  • Informal
1 8.5

A secret plan to trick people by making something seem accidental

put-on
  • Informal
1 7.6

Seems real but is actually false

put-put
  • Specialized
1 9.2

A small engine on a boat that makes a chugging sound

How Clearly

to articulate
129 4.4
to express
∞ 2.3
to state
225 1.6
to say
∞ 1.0
to put
∞ 1.4
to imply
439 3.5

Surface Forms

put infinitive
putting present participle
puts third person singular
put past
put past participle

Etymology

Put began with the idea of 'placing', and speakers used that image for words and ideas too, as in 'put it this way' where you 'place' your meaning in certain words. So to put something into words is to arrange or place your ideas in a particular form.