The verb PUT forms essential phrasal verbs for placement and action. From putting down objects to putting off tasks, this family covers positioning, communication, delays, endurance, building, and effects. Master these phrasal verbs and you'll express placement and action with precision.
Meaning: To place something on a surface, criticize someone, end an animal's suffering
"Please put down that heavy box on the table."
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"He always puts down her ideas in meetings."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Context determines meaning: physical placement, criticism, or euthanasia.
Meaning: To construct, hang something, provide accommodation, tolerate
"They're going to put up a new building here."
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"Can you put me up for the night?"
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very versatile: building, hanging, accommodating, or tolerating.
Meaning: To wear clothes, pretend, organize an event, gain weight
"Put on your coat - it's cold outside."
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"She's just putting on an act to get attention."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
One of the most common phrasal verbs with multiple meanings.
Meaning: To install, invest time/effort, make a formal request
"We need to put in a new kitchen sink."
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"I put in 10 hours of work on this project."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used for effort, installation, or formal applications.
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You've mastered the PUT family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To store something in its proper place, imprison
"Please put away your toys after playing."
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"The criminal was put away for 10 years."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Usually means organizing, but can mean imprisonment in legal contexts.
Meaning: To return something to its original place, postpone
"Put back the book where you found it."
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"The meeting was put back until next week."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can mean physical replacement or time postponement.
Meaning: To suggest or propose an idea, advance time
"I'd like to put forward a new proposal."
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"Don't forget to put forward your clocks tonight."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Formal way to present ideas or advance clock time.
Meaning: To communicate an idea clearly and effectively
"She really knows how to put across her ideas."
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"It's hard to put across complex concepts simply."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Emphasizes successful communication and understanding.
๐ฏ Ready to test your knowledge? Try the exercises!
You've mastered the PUT family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To connect a phone call, subject someone to an experience
"Can you put me through to the manager?"
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"They put him through intensive training."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Common in phone conversations and describing difficult experiences.
Meaning: To help people establish contact with each other
"I can put you in touch with a good lawyer."
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"Let me put you in touch with my contacts."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for networking and making connections.
Meaning: To postpone, discourage someone from doing something
"Let's put off the meeting until tomorrow."
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"The bad weather put us off going to the beach."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very common for delays and when things become unappealing.
Meaning: To save money, ignore differences, stop doing something temporarily
"I put aside money every month for vacation."
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"Let's put aside our differences and work together."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used for saving money or temporarily ignoring issues.
๐ช Keep going! You're mastering PUT phrasal verbs!
You've mastered the PUT family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To pause or delay something, make someone wait on the phone
"The project was put on hold due to budget cuts."
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"Please hold while I put you on hold."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Business and phone contexts for temporary suspension.
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant
"I can't put up with this noise anymore."
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"She puts up with a lot from her difficult boss."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Implies patience with annoying or difficult situations.
Meaning: To forget about past problems, move on from something
"It's time to put that argument behind us."
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"She's finally put her past mistakes behind her."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Used for emotional healing and moving forward.
Meaning: To assemble, organize, create by combining parts
"Can you help me put together this furniture?"
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"She put together a great presentation."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very common for assembly and organization tasks.
๐ฏ Ready to test your knowledge? Try the exercises!
You've mastered the PUT family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To apply knowledge or theory in real situations
"Now let's put this theory into practice."
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"It's hard to put these ideas into practice."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Academic and professional contexts for applying learning.
Meaning: To use something effectively, make someone start working
"Let's put this new software to work."
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"The new manager put everyone to work immediately."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
About utilizing resources or starting productive activity.
Meaning: To extinguish a fire, publish, inconvenience someone
"The firefighters put out the fire quickly."
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"I hope I'm not putting you out by asking this favor."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Multiple meanings: extinguishing, publishing, or causing trouble.
Meaning: To try to influence or force someone to do something
"The deadline is putting pressure on the team."
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"Don't put pressure on him to make a decision."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often about stress, deadlines, or attempting to influence.
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You've mastered the PUT family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To make someone feel comfortable and relaxed
"Her friendly smile put me at ease immediately."
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"The doctor's explanation put the patient at ease."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Used for reducing anxiety and creating comfort.