Phrasal Verbs with “Put”: Meanings & Examples
Phrasal Verbs with "Put": Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide
The verb put is one of the most versatile words in English, and when it teams up with a particle such as on, off, up, or through, it forms a whole family of phrasal verbs with put that native speakers use every single day. On its own, put simply means to place something somewhere — but combine it with a particle, and the meaning can shift entirely, from postponing a meeting to tolerating a noisy neighbour. Because their meanings rarely match the individual words, phrasal verbs with put are also among the ones English learners mix up most often.
This guide walks you through the most useful phrasal verbs with "put", organised by how formal or conversational they are, with clear meanings and natural example sentences you can start using straight away.
What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles — usually a preposition or an adverb — that together create a meaning quite different from the original verb. If you're new to this area of English, it's worth starting with our guide to 50 Common English Phrasal Verbs for Daily Conversation before working through this list, as it covers the basics you'll need here. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, put alone already carries over a dozen meanings — and that's before a particle is even added.
Complete List of Phrasal Verbs with "Put"
Below are fifteen of the most common phrasal verbs with put, grouped by how you're likely to use them: in everyday conversation, in formal or professional settings, and in more idiomatic or advanced English.
Everyday & Conversational "Put" Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Put on | To place an item of clothing on your body | She put on her coat before leaving the house. |
| Put away | To store something in its proper place | Please put away your toys before dinner. |
| Put off | To postpone something to a later time | We had to put off the meeting until next week. |
| Put out | To extinguish something, such as a fire or cigarette | The firefighters quickly put out the flames. |
| Put back | To return something to its original place | Put the book back on the shelf when you've finished. |
Formal & Professional "Put" Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Put across | To communicate an idea clearly so others understand it | The manager put her proposal across confidently at the meeting. |
| Put forward | To suggest or propose an idea, plan, or candidate | The committee put forward a new plan for the budget. |
| Put in | To submit a request, or to spend time and effort on something | She put in extra hours to finish the report on time. |
| Put through | To connect someone by telephone, or to make someone experience something difficult | Could you put me through to the sales department, please? |
| Put together | To assemble or organise something from separate parts | They put together a detailed presentation for the client. |
Idiomatic & Advanced "Put" Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Put up with | To tolerate someone or something unpleasant | I don't know how she puts up with all that noise. |
| Put down | To write something down, or to criticise someone unfairly | He put down a few notes during the lecture. |
| Put up | To provide temporary accommodation, or to build or erect something | They put us up for the night after our flight was cancelled. |
| Put aside | To save money or set something apart for later use | We're putting aside a little money each month for our holiday. |
| Put down to | To attribute something to a particular cause | She put her success down to hard work and determination. |
How to Use "Put" Phrasal Verbs Correctly
Most phrasal verbs with put are separable, meaning the object can go either between the verb and the particle or after it: you can say put the meeting off or put off the meeting, and both are correct. However, when the object is a pronoun (it, her, them), it must always go in the middle: put it off, never put off it.
A few phrasal verbs with put, such as put up with, are inseparable — the particles always stay together, so you would say put up with it, never put it up with.
Common Mistakes with "Put" Phrasal Verbs
Learners often confuse put on with put in, since both can relate to effort or attention — but put on refers to clothing, appearance, or starting a device, while put in specifically means spending time or effort. Another common mix-up is put off (to postpone) versus put out (to extinguish or inconvenience) — the meanings are completely unrelated despite the similar sound. If this kind of confusion sounds familiar, our post on 5 Common Phrasal Verbs You're Using Wrong covers several more mix-ups that catch out even advanced learners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "put" mean as a phrasal verb in English?
On its own, put means to place something in a particular position. Once combined with a particle such as on, off, up, or through, it becomes a phrasal verb with a distinct meaning — for example, put off means to postpone, while put up with means to tolerate.
Is "put off" formal or informal English?
Put off is neutral and can be used in both spoken and written English, in casual conversation and in most professional contexts, such as postponing a meeting or an appointment.
What is the difference between "put on" and "put in"?
Put on usually refers to wearing clothing, applying something, or starting a device, such as putting on a coat or putting on the television. Put in refers to spending time or effort on a task, such as putting in extra hours at work.
Can "put up with" be separated, as in "put it up with"?
No. Put up with is an inseparable phrasal verb, so the object always comes after the whole phrase: put up with it, not put it up with.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with "put"?
Some of the most frequently used phrasal verbs with put include put off, put on, put up with, put together, put forward, and put away, all of which appear regularly in everyday and professional English.
How can I remember phrasal verbs with "put" more easily?
Grouping them by theme, such as everyday actions, formal usage, and idiomatic expressions, makes them easier to recall than memorising a random list. Practising each phrasal verb in a full sentence, rather than in isolation, also helps the meaning stick.
Quick Summary
- Put on, put away, put off, put out, put back — everyday phrasal verbs for clothing, storing, delaying, and extinguishing
- Put across, put forward, put in, put through, put together — useful for formal or professional English
- Put up with, put down, put up, put aside, put down to — idiomatic phrasal verbs for tolerance, accommodation, saving, and attributing cause
- Most are separable, except idiomatic ones like put up with
Final Thoughts
Phrasal verbs with put show up constantly in spoken and written English, from casual chats about putting the kettle on to formal emails about putting forward a proposal. Rather than memorising the whole list at once, try picking three or four you'll actually use this week — put off, put up with, and put together are a great place to start — and practise them in your own sentences.
Explore more Phrasal Verb guides on EnglishWithDev, or head over to Dictionary Dev for single-word breakdowns of English vocabulary, meanings, and origins.
