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to put together

to put together

988 2.8
To make something by joining parts, like a model, plan or team
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʊt təˈɡɛðər/
translation icon : montar (ensamblar)
  • One of the six aptitudes identified by Pink is symphony, "the ability to put together the pieces."
  • put together the pieces
  • put together a coalition
  • put together again

And the way we are putting things together does guarantee that.

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Examples

  • She enjoys putting together puzzles with her friends on weekends.

  • So I helped them put together a political party.

  • No other world leader could have put together the coalition that fought the Gulf War.

    Academic text (1991)
  • After reading it, anyone can, with a little determination, put together terrific essays.

    Academic text (1999)
  • All six mobiles were then put together, and students described their parts to the class.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I bet we can find enough parts to put together that little moonship we discussed on Earth.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I'm gonna put together a press kit for Michelle, something I can take to businesses, get corporate donations, that kind of thing.

  • I will put together a new bookshelf using the pieces I bought last week.

  • They decided to put together a plan to improve the community garden.

Synonyms

to make
vsto put together
1.0

To create something by putting parts together

can mean mental or artistic creation not only physical joining
to build
vsto put together
1.0

To make something by joining parts or materials

is the general act of creating from combined parts, not only large structures
to set up
vsto put together
683 3.4

To make something begin, for example a business

relates to making by joining parts, not to founding or organizing entities
to combine
vsto put together
638 2.7

To mix two or more things into one

is more neutral, used for making something by joining different parts
to connect
vsto put together
278 1.1

Join two things so they form one piece

emphasizes the joining points rather than creating a new single object
to make up
vsto put together
239 2.7

Be the parts that form a whole

is the general action of creating by joining different elements
to construct
vsto put together
201 3.5

To build something by joining parts or materials

focuses on physical, planned building rather than any kind of creation
to merge
vsto put together
192 3.2

To join two or more things so they become one

often implies complete fusion rather than mere placement of parts
to assemble
vsto put together
169 2.9

To put parts together to make something like a machine or toy

is used more broadly for creating by combining different elements
to piece
vsto put together
89 4.2

To join parts together to make something whole

often focuses on repair or fitting small parts rather than full creation
to synthesize
vsto put together
55 6.4

To combine ideas or materials to make something new

focuses on intellectual or scientific joining rather than general assembly
to frame
vsto put together
35 3.2

To build a supporting structure by joining parts

focuses on creating a support skeleton rather than any assembled object
to tack
vsto put together
30 4.9

Fasten something to a surface with small nails or pins

focuses on fastening method rather than wholesale creation by joining parts
to conjoin
vsto put together
26 5.9

To come together or bring things together

is more general, while this stresses formal union or togetherness
to throw together
vsto put together
  • Informal
22 3.5

Make something quickly without much care or planning

is the general act that does not imply speed or lack of planning
to cobble
vsto put together
  • Informal
21 5.3

To put things together quickly and roughly using what is available

carries a rough, informal sense unlike the neutral making process
to cobble together
vsto put together
  • Informal
16 5.2

Make something quickly and roughly from things you have

is neutral about quality and tools, unlike this makeshift construction
to string together
vsto put together
8 4.0

To join separate things or events so they become one connected thing

stresses order and sequence rather than merely combining parts into one thing
to amalgamate
vsto put together
  • Formal
4 7.4

To join several groups or parts to make one

is the general act, while this is formal and stresses total unification
to compound
vsto put together
4 4.0

To mix two or more things to make one thing

is broader, not limited to chemical or material combinations
to interweave
vsto put together
4 6.3

To mix different things closely together, like threads or melodies

uses weaving imagery and method, not simple joining of parts
to slap together
vsto put together
  • Informal
3 6.0

Make something quickly without caring about details

is neutral about attention and quality, not implying haste or neglect
to frame up
vsto put together
1 4.9

To build the basic wooden structure of a building like a house

is focused on forming main support rather than general composition
to knock together
vsto put together
  • UK
1 4.9

Make something quickly that will not last long

is neutral about speed and care, unlike this quick, rough method
to scratch together
vsto put together
  • Informal
1 6.5

To gather small amounts of money, food, or a few people with difficulty to do something

implies struggle and scarcity, not neutral creation from available parts
to cobble up
vsto put together
  • Informal
8.2

To make something quickly and roughly using what is available

focuses on improvised, low quality assembly, not general creation
to tack together
vsto put together
4.7

To join parts quickly in a careless, temporary way

is not necessarily temporary or loose, unlike this quick joining

Antonyms

110 2.7

To make people or animals move quickly in different directions

To take something apart into separate pieces

How Complete

to construct
201 3.5
to put together
988 2.8
to assemble
169 2.9
to piece
89 4.2

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

put + together

The meaning 'to create or assemble by combining parts' is directly derivable from 'put' (place/position) combined with 'together' (in combination/jointly), so the composite sense follows normal English composition. This is a common, cross-linguistic construction (verb + particle indicating combination), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Put together comes from the simple image of taking separate parts and putting them together, like fitting puzzle pieces or building a model into one whole. So it means 'to assemble' or 'create' something by joining its parts.