Phrasal verbs with put: 12 meanings with example sentences

B1–B212 words

“Put” is one of the small verbs English builds dozens of meanings on, and none of them can be guessed from the parts. Learn them as whole units, in sentences, and they stop sounding like a grammar problem.

Where you will use it: Conversation, telephone English and workplace talk.

Phrasal Verbs with PutThe word list

WordMeaning
put offTo postpone something.We put off the meeting until Monday.
put up withTo tolerate something unpleasant.I can't put up with the noise any longer.
put onTo dress in something, or to start a device.Put on your coat, it's cold.
put throughTo connect someone by phone.I'll put you through to accounts.
put awayTo return something to its place.Put the tools away when you finish.
put outTo extinguish a fire or light.They put out the fire in minutes.
put downTo place something on a surface; to criticise.He put down the box and sighed.
put forwardTo suggest an idea for consideration.She put forward a simpler plan.
put asideTo save something for later.We put aside money every month.
put backTo return something, or to delay it.The launch was put back a week.
put in forTo formally request something.He put in for a transfer.
put togetherTo assemble or prepare something.I put together a short report.

How to study this list

Add five or six of these words a day rather than all twelve at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.

Studying phrasal verbs with put pairs well with our phrasal verbs with get, phrasal verbs with take and essential phrasal verbs list, or browse all free English word lists.

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