put
/pʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /pʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpu̇t/ (ame, mw)
put — verb
1. to place a person or object in a particular location, or to send it toward a spe
to place a person or object in a particular location, or to send it toward a specific point.
Minh put her keys in the wooden bowl by the front door.
put + noun + in/on/at + location
The librarian put the heavy books back on the shelf.
Antonia carefully put the baby into the high chair at the table.
Please put the empty bottles next to the recycling bin outside.
Kemi put a warm blanket over her grandfather's shoulders.
文法句型
put + noun + preposition/adverb of place
用法筆記
In this sense, 'put' always requires a phrase or adverb that tells WHERE the object goes. You cannot say 'I put the book' without adding a location. The pattern is 'put + object + location'.
常見錯誤
2. to note information on a surface by writing it, such as on paper or a digital do
to note information on a surface by writing it, such as on paper or a digital document.
Put your full name and address at the top of the page.
Ilan put a reminder on the fridge so his family would see it.
put + noun + on + surface
The teacher asked everyone to put today's date on the first line.
Lien put her signature at the bottom of the contract last night.
Could you put those notes into a document before the meeting ends?
文法句型
put + noun + in/on/down + surface
用法筆記
Often used for filling in forms, leaving written reminders, or signing documents. Common prepositions include 'in', 'on', 'down', and 'into'.
常見錯誤
3. to choose particular words to communicate a thought, feeling, or idea to someone
to choose particular words to communicate a thought, feeling, or idea to someone.
How can I put this gently without hurting his feelings?
how can I put + adverb
To put it simply, the project costs far more than we expected.
to put it simply / mildly / bluntly
Esme put her concerns clearly during the team meeting yesterday.
Let me put it another way — your plan needs more preparation.
Iker struggled to put his gratitude into words at the ceremony.
文法句型
put + noun/adverb + in words / another way
put it + adverb (mildly, simply, bluntly)
用法筆記
This sense is very common in fixed expressions such as 'to put it mildly', 'to put it bluntly', 'how shall I put it?', and 'let me put it this way'. The speaker is commenting on their own choice of words.
常見錯誤
4. to state an amount that you believe represents the real financial worth or cost
to state an amount that you believe represents the real financial worth or cost of something.
The expert put the painting's value at over fifty thousand pounds.
put + noun + at + amount
Meera would put the cost of repairs at around three hundred dollars.
The insurance agent put the damage to the house at fifteen thousand.
Quan put his used car on the market for eight thousand euros.
No one could put a precise figure on the cost of the delay.
文法句型
put + noun + at + amount
用法筆記
Common in auctions, insurance assessments, and negotiations. The preposition 'at' introduces the estimated amount. The pattern 'put a figure on something' is a fixed expression used when exact numbers are hard to determine.
常見錯誤
5. to present information or an opinion in a particular style or from a specific an
to present information or an opinion in a particular style or from a specific angle, often using set discourse phrases to signal how the speaker wants the message understood.
To put it mildly, the hotel room was far too small for four guests.
to put it mildly / bluntly / charitably
When you put it that way, I understand why you made that choice.
when you put it that way
Put simply, the company has been losing money for over a year.
The concert was disappointing, to put it charitably.
Cyrus put his experience in the best possible light during the job interview.
文法句型
to put it + adverb (simply, mildly, bluntly, charitably)
put + clause + way / perspective
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely restricted to fixed framing expressions. It does not work with a direct object in the ordinary way. Key frames are: 'to put it + adverb', 'put simply/bluntly', 'when you put it that way', and 'put + noun + in a ... light'.
常見錯誤
6. to make a person or thing experience a particular condition, change, or result.
to make a person or thing experience a particular condition, change, or result.
The doctor's calm voice put the patient at ease before the treatment.
put + noun + at ease / at risk / in danger
Paloma's kind words put a warm smile on her mother's face.
The new safety rules put many small factories out of business.
Bilal put his own life at risk to save the child from the fire.
The long delay put everyone in a bad mood before the show.
文法句型
put + noun + adjective (at ease, at risk, out of business)
put + noun + prepositional phrase (in a mood, into action)
用法筆記
This sense follows the pattern 'put + object + state/condition'. The state is expressed as an adjective phrase ('at ease', 'at risk'), a prepositional phrase ('in a mood', 'into action'), or a result noun phrase ('a smile on ... face'). Unlike 'make' + adjective, 'put' suggests a more gradual or situational change.
常見錯誤
7. to start using a plan, system, or set of skills so that it becomes active or eff
to start using a plan, system, or set of skills so that it becomes active or effective
Haruto put a new safety plan into action after the fire drill.
put + plan/action + into action/effect
It took the staff three months to put the new computer system into operation.
put + system + into operation
The government put the tax changes into effect at the start of the year.
Élise put her language skills to excellent use at the international meeting.
文法句型
put + something + into + effect / operation / practice
put + something + to + use
用法筆記
Commonly used in fixed phrases like 'put something into action', 'put something into practice', and 'put something to use'. The object is typically a plan, system, law, skill, or idea.
常見錯誤
8. to decide the value, quality, or importance of someone or something by comparing
to decide the value, quality, or importance of someone or something by comparing them with similar people or things
The judge put the safety of the children before any financial concerns.
put + noun + before + noun — prioritising
Most critics put this film above the director's earlier work.
Aarav would put his grandmother's cooking on a level with the best restaurant dishes.
When the company chose a leader, they put experience ahead of popularity.
文法句型
put + someone/something + above/below/before/ahead of + noun phrase
put + someone/something + on a level/par with + noun phrase
用法筆記
The object is often an abstract noun (safety, value, quality) or a person. The comparison is usually introduced by 'above', 'before', 'ahead of', or 'on a level with'.
常見錯誤
9. to sail away from land and begin a journey on a ship across the ocean
to sail away from land and begin a journey on a ship across the ocean
The fishing boats put to sea at dawn every morning.
put to sea — set sail
Despite the storm warnings, the crew put out to sea with their supplies.
After three days in port, the ship put to sea again carrying new cargo.
The old sailor told stories of the first time he put out to sea.
文法句型
put + to sea
put + out to sea
用法筆記
Used only in the fixed expressions 'put to sea' and 'put out to sea', both meaning to leave a port or harbour and begin a voyage.
10. to push a heavy metal ball called the shot from your shoulder with a strong forw
to push a heavy metal ball called the shot from your shoulder with a strong forward arm movement in the sport of shot put
Haruto put the shot over fourteen metres and won the school competition.
Nala practised putting the shot every evening in the school field.
putting the shot — -ing form in sport context
The coach showed the team how to put the shot without hurting their shoulders.
Kian put the shot ten centimetres farther than his personal best.
文法句型
put + the shot
用法筆記
This meaning is restricted to the sport of shot put. The object is always 'the shot'. Do not use other objects — 'put the ball', for example, is not correct in this sense.
常見錯誤
11. to use your time, effort, or money for a particular aim or goal
to use your time, effort, or money for a particular aim or goal
The charity put the donations to immediate use buying food for homeless families.
put + donations + to use — applying resources
If you put your mind to it, you can learn almost any skill.
Eitan put all his energy into training for the marathon race.
The committee put the funds toward building a new library in the village.
Wei put his years of teaching experience to work designing better lessons.
- waste
To use something without achieving a good result
文法句型
put + something + to + purpose / use / work
put + oneself + to + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Common in fixed phrases where the object is an abstract resource (time, energy, money, effort, mind) followed by 'to' or 'into' and a purpose. The structure often uses a gerund ('into training') or a noun phrase ('to use').
常見錯誤
put — noun
1. in the sport of shot put, the action of pushing a heavy metal ball forward from
in the sport of shot put, the action of pushing a heavy metal ball forward from your shoulder area using an overhand motion, rather than swinging your arm
Rafael's best put of the season reached nearly 19 metres at the state championship.
collocation: best put / personal best put
The coach corrected Élise's hand position before each put during practice.
preposition: before / during + put
A successful put depends on leg drive as much as arm strength.
The crowd went quiet as the athlete prepared for her final put of the competition.
用法筆記
In sports contexts, 'put' as a noun almost always refers to the throwing action in the shot put event. It is less common as a standalone word and typically appears with a modifier or context (e.g. 'personal best put', 'final put').
常見錯誤
2. a financial contract that gives the owner the right to sell a specific stock, bo
a financial contract that gives the owner the right to sell a specific stock, bond, or other asset before a certain date at a price agreed upon in advance
Aaron bought a put on the manufacturing company's stock to protect against a price drop.
collocation: buy a put on [asset]
The value of Talia's put rose when the share price fell below the agreed amount.
Investors often use a put as insurance against losses in a falling market.
Zayd decided to exercise his put before expiry at the end of the month.
- put option
the full term; 'put' is a shortened form
- call
a call option gives the right to buy, while a put gives the right to sell
用法筆記
Usually appears in finance and investment contexts. A put option is the opposite of a 'call' option, which gives the right to buy. The agreed price is called the 'strike price'.
常見錯誤
put — adjective
1. remaining in the exact same place without moving away — used almost exclusively
remaining in the exact same place without moving away — used almost exclusively in the phrase 'stay put,' which means to not go anywhere or to remain where one already is.
Otis stayed put on the sofa while his roommates went to get dinner.
collocation: stay put (fixed phrase)
The doctor told Indra to stay put for a week after the surgery.
Mizuki's little dog stayed put on the porch even when the gate was open.
The tour guide told everyone to stay put while she checked the tickets.
- fixed
more general term; can describe anything attached or held in place, while 'put' specifically implies staying where placed
- stationary
more formal and technical; often used in written descriptions rather than everyday speech
- immobile
stronger sense of being unable or unwilling to move, rather than choosing to stay
文法句型
stay + put (fixed phrase)
remain + put (rare, literary)
用法筆記
Found almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'stay put,' which can be used as an imperative instruction or as a statement describing that someone or something remains in place. Using 'put' alone as an adjective outside this phrase (e.g. 'remain put') sounds dated or deliberately literary.