Contents
Phrasal verbs with PUT are extremely common in everyday English. They appear in conversations, academic writing, business communication, and exams such as IELTS and TOEIC. Mastering these phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural and confident when speaking English.
In this lesson, you will learn the most common phrasal verbs with PUT, their meanings, grammar notes, and real-life examples.
List of Common Phrasal Verbs with PUT
- Put into
- Put across
- Put aside
- Put away
- Put back
- Put by
- Put down
- Put down to
- Put forward
- Put in
- Put into practice
- Put off
- Put on
- Put out
- Put oneself across
- Put over
- Put it past someone
- Put through
- Put together
- Put towards
- Put up
- Put up with
Phrasal Verbs with PUT with Meaning and Examples
Put (effort) into
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ˈefərt ˈɪntuː/
📖 Meaning: To invest time, energy, or effort in order to achieve something.
📝 Example: She put a lot of effort into improving her English.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: invest in, devote to
Put across
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt əˈkrɒs/
📖 Meaning: To communicate ideas or feelings clearly so others understand.
📝 Example: He found it hard to put his ideas across.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: communicate, convey
Put aside
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt əˈsaɪd/
📖 Meaning: To save money or temporarily ignore something.
📝 Example: Let’s put aside our differences for now.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: save, set aside
Put away
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt əˈweɪ/
📖 Meaning: To store something, save money, or eat a large amount.
📝 Example: Please put away your clothes.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: store, save
Put back
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt bæk/
📖 Meaning: To return something to its original place or delay something.
📝 Example: She put back the book on the shelf.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: return, postpone
Put by
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt baɪ/
📖 Meaning: To save money for future use (British English).
📝 Example: She puts by some money every month.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: save, put aside
Put down
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt daʊn/
📖 Meaning: To criticize, write down, pay a deposit, or kill an animal humanely.
📝 Example: Don’t put people down.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: criticize, record
Put down as
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt daʊn æz/
📖 Meaning: To judge or classify someone in a particular way.
📝 Example: I put him down as unreliable.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: regard as, consider
Put down for
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt daʊn fɔːr/
📖 Meaning: To record someone’s name for a task or event.
📝 Example: She was put down for overtime.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: register, assign
Put down to
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt daʊn tuː/
📖 Meaning: To believe something is caused by a particular reason.
📝 Example: The delay was put down to bad weather.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: attribute to, blame on
Put forward
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ˈfɔːrwəd/
📖 Meaning: To suggest an idea or plan.
📝 Example: She put forward a new proposal.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: propose, suggest
Put in
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ɪn/
📖 Meaning: To spend time or effort, or formally submit something.
📝 Example: He put in a lot of extra work.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: invest, submit
Put into practice
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ˈɪntuː ˈpræktɪs/
📖 Meaning: To use an idea or plan in a real situation.
📝 Example: It’s time to put the theory into practice.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: implement, apply
Put off
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ɒf/
📖 Meaning: To delay or discourage someone.
📝 Example: They put off the meeting.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: postpone, delay
Put on
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ɒn/
📖 Meaning: To wear clothes, pretend, or organize an event.
📝 Example: She put on a jacket.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: wear, perform
Put out
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt aʊt/
📖 Meaning: To extinguish, publish, or inconvenience.
📝 Example: Firefighters put out the fire.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: extinguish, release
Put oneself across
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt wʌnˈself əˈkrɒs/
📖 Meaning: To express your personality or ideas clearly.
📝 Example: She put herself across confidently.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Reflexive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: express oneself, communicate
Put over
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ˈəʊvər/
📖 Meaning: To communicate an idea successfully.
📝 Example: He put over his message clearly.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: convey, get across
Put it past someone
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ɪt pɑːst/
📖 Meaning: To believe someone is capable of doing something.
📝 Example: I wouldn’t put it past him to lie.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Idiomatic
- Structure: Fixed expression
🔄 Synonyms: believe capable of
Put through
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt θruː/
📖 Meaning: To connect by phone or make someone endure something.
📝 Example: Could you put me through to HR?
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: connect, subject to
Put to
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt tuː/
📖 Meaning: To ask a question or propose something.
📝 Example: The teacher put a question to the class.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: ask, pose
Put together
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt təˈɡeðər/
📖 Meaning: To assemble or create something.
📝 Example: They put together a strong team.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: assemble, compile
Put towards
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt təˈwɔːrdz/
📖 Meaning: To contribute money or effort.
📝 Example: She put her savings towards a car.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: contribute to
Put up
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ʌp/
📖 Meaning: To build, provide accommodation, or raise prices.
📝 Example: They put us up for the night.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Separable
🔄 Synonyms: build, accommodate
Put up with
🔊 Pronunciation: /pʊt ʌp wɪð/
📖 Meaning: To tolerate something unpleasant.
📝 Example: I can’t put up with the noise.
💡 Grammar Note:
- Type: Transitive
- Structure: Inseparable
🔄 Synonyms: tolerate, endure
Dialogue Examples with Phrasal Verbs with PUT
Dialogue 1: At the Office
Anna: You look exhausted. Have you been working late again?
Mark: Yes. I’ve been putting in extra hours to finish this report.
Anna: Did you finally put forward your idea to the manager?
Mark: I did, but it was hard to put my point across clearly.
Anna: Well, at least you didn’t put it off this time.
Dialogue 2: Friends Talking About Money
Lisa: I’m trying to save more money these days.
Tom: Same here. I put aside a small amount every month.
Lisa: That’s smart. I used to spend everything instead of putting money away.
Tom: Yeah, I also put by some money for emergencies.
Lisa: I should really put my savings towards something useful.
Dialogue 3: Preparing for an Event
Emma: Are you ready for the presentation tomorrow?
Jake: Almost. I’ve put together the slides, but I’m still nervous.
Emma: Don’t worry. Just try to put yourself across confidently.
Jake: I hope the audience won’t put me down if I make a mistake.
Emma: They won’t. And if anything goes wrong, we’ll just deal with it instead of putting it off.
Dialogue 4: Everyday Situation
David: Can you turn the music down a bit?
Sophia: Sorry! I didn’t mean to put you out.
David: It’s fine. I’m just trying to focus.
Sophia: I admire how you put up with distractions and still get work done.
David: Not always! Sometimes I just have to put my phone away and concentrate.
Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
Complete the sentences using the correct phrasal verbs with put.
- He has been __________ extra hours to finish the project.
- She tries to __________ some money every month for emergencies.
- It was difficult for him to __________ his ideas __________ during the meeting.
- They decided to __________ the plan __________ instead of delaying it.
- I can’t __________ __________ the noise anymore.
Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer
Choose the correct phrasal verb with put to complete each sentence.
- She finally __________ her proposal during the meeting.
a) put away
b) put forward
c) put off - He apologized because he didn’t mean to __________ anyone __________.
a) put / across
b) put / out
c) put / up - I’m trying to __________ my savings __________ a new laptop.
a) put / across
b) put / together
c) put / towards - The teacher __________ a difficult question __________ the students.
a) put / to
b) put / off
c) put / away - She was nervous but still managed to __________ herself __________ confidently.
a) put / up
b) put / across
c) put / out
Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences
Rewrite each sentence using the phrasal verb in brackets. Do not change the meaning.
- He delayed the meeting until next week. (put off)
- She saved some money for her vacation. (put aside)
- They tolerated the loud noise for hours. (put up with)
- He suggested a new idea during the discussion. (put forward)
- She assembled the presentation very quickly. (put together)
Answer Key
Exercise 1
- putting in
- put aside
- put / across
- put / into practice
- put up with
Exercise 2
- b) put forward
- b) put / out
- c) put / towards
- a) put / to
- b) put / across
Exercise 3
- He put off the meeting until next week.
- She put aside some money for her vacation.
- They put up with the loud noise for hours.
- He put forward a new idea during the discussion.
- She put together the presentation very quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are phrasal verbs with PUT common in everyday English?
Answer: Yes. Phrasal verbs with put are extremely common in daily conversations, especially in spoken English. Native speakers often use them instead of more formal verbs.
2. Is there a difference between “put aside” and “put away”?
Answer: Yes. Put aside usually means saving money or temporarily ignoring something, while put away often means storing something in its proper place or saving money more generally.
3. Can one phrasal verb with PUT have multiple meanings?
Answer: Yes. Many phrasal verbs with put, such as put on, put down, and put out, have several meanings. The correct meaning depends on the context.
4. How can I learn phrasal verbs with PUT more effectively?
Answer: The best way is to learn them in context. Read example sentences, practice with dialogues, and try using each phrasal verb in your own sentences instead of memorizing long lists.
Conclusion
Learning phrasal verbs with PUT will significantly improve your fluency and comprehension. Focus on common meanings, practice with real examples, and use them in daily conversations.
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