Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English, and the verb “put” is one of the most commonly used verbs in many expressions. Native speakers frequently use phrasal verbs like “put off,” “put on,” “put up with,” and “put out” in daily conversations, workplaces, and informal discussions. If you do not understand these expressions, it can be difficult to follow natural English.
Many learners find phrasal verbs challenging because their meanings are not always literal. For example, “put off” does not mean physically placing something somewhere—it means to postpone. That is why learning phrasal verbs with clear meanings and example sentences is important for improving fluency.
In this complete guide, you will discover 40 useful phrasal verbs using “put,” along with simple meanings and practical example sentences. This article will help you expand your vocabulary, improve your speaking skills, and understand real-life English conversations more confidently.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Before we jump into our list, let’s understand what phrasal verbs actually are. A phrasal verb combines a verb (in this case, PUT) with a preposition or adverb (like up, down, off, on) to create a new meaning that’s often quite different from the original verb.
For example, “put” means to place something somewhere, but “put off” means to postpone or delay—completely different, right? This is what makes phrasal verbs both challenging and exciting to learn.
This topic is part of our English Phrasal Verbs for English learners.
Why Focus on PUT Phrasal Verbs?
The verb PUT appears in countless everyday conversations, emails, and texts. Native speakers use these combinations naturally, and understanding them will help you communicate more effectively in both personal and professional settings. Plus, many PUT phrasal verbs appear frequently in English exams like IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge assessments.
40 Essential PUT Phrasal Verbs You Need to Know
1. Put aside
Meaning: To save money or time for future use; to ignore differences temporarily
Example: I try to put aside $200 every month for emergencies.
2. Put away
Meaning: To store something in its proper place; to save money
Example: Please put away your toys before dinner.
3. Put back
Meaning: To return something to its original position; to postpone
Example: Don’t forget to put the milk back in the fridge.
4. Put down
Meaning: To place something on a surface; to criticize someone; to write something
Example: He put down his phone and finally listened to me.
5. Put forward
Meaning: To suggest an idea or proposal
Example: She put forward an excellent plan during the meeting.
6. Put in
Meaning: To install; to submit; to invest time or effort
Example: We need to put in a new kitchen sink.
7. Put off
Meaning: To postpone or delay; to make someone dislike something
Example: Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.
8. Put on
Meaning: To wear clothes; to gain weight; to pretend; to organize an event
Example: Put on your jacket—it’s cold outside.
9. Put out
Meaning: To extinguish a fire; to inconvenience someone; to publish
Example: The firefighters put out the fire quickly.
10. Put through
Meaning: To connect a phone call; to cause someone to experience something difficult
Example: Could you put me through to the manager, please?
11. Put together
Meaning: To assemble or construct; to organize
Example: It took me three hours to put together this furniture.
12. Put up
Meaning: To raise something; to accommodate someone; to build or erect
Example: They’re putting up a new building downtown.
13. Put up with
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant
Example: I can’t put up with this noise anymore!
14. Put across
Meaning: To communicate an idea clearly
Example: She put her point across very effectively during the debate.
15. Put by
Meaning: To save money for the future
Example: My grandparents always put by some money for rainy days.
16. Put down to
Meaning: To attribute something to a particular cause
Example: I put his bad mood down to stress at work.
17. Put forth
Meaning: To propose or present; to produce (formal)
Example: The committee put forth several recommendations.
18. Put in for
Meaning: To apply for something officially
Example: I’m putting in for a promotion next month.
19. Put into
Meaning: To invest time, money, or effort into something
Example: She put a lot of energy into planning the party.
20. Put off until
Meaning: To delay until a specific time
Example: The meeting was put off until next Friday.
21. Put on weight
Meaning: To gain body weight
Example: I’ve put on weight since the holidays.
22. Put out of
Meaning: To remove from a situation or eliminate
Example: The injury put him out of the competition.
23. Put over
Meaning: To communicate successfully; to deceive
Example: He put over his ideas with great enthusiasm.
24. Put past
Meaning: To believe someone is capable of something (usually negative)
Example: I wouldn’t put it past him to lie about his qualifications.
25. Put right
Meaning: To correct an error or problem
Example: The company promised to put right the billing mistake.
26. Put through to
Meaning: To connect someone via telephone
Example: Let me put you through to customer service.
27. Put to
Meaning: To suggest for consideration; to use for a purpose
Example: I put the question to the entire team.
28. Put towards
Meaning: To contribute money to a larger purchase or goal
Example: I’m putting my bonus towards a new car.
29. Put upon
Meaning: To take unfair advantage of someone
Example: She felt put upon by her demanding relatives.
30. Put about
Meaning: To spread rumors or information
Example: Someone put about a false story regarding the company.
31. Put around
Meaning: To circulate information
Example: They put around a memo about the policy changes.
32. Put at
Meaning: To estimate or calculate
Example: Experts put the cost at around $50,000.
33. Put behind
Meaning: To forget past problems and move forward
Example: It’s time to put this disagreement behind us.
34. Put down for
Meaning: To register someone for something; to note someone’s name
Example: Can you put me down for the volunteer list?
35. Put down as
Meaning: To consider or classify someone as something
Example: I’d put him down as a reliable person.
36. Put forth effort
Meaning: To make a significant attempt
Example: The students put forth great effort on the final project.
37. Put in an appearance
Meaning: To attend briefly
Example: The CEO put in an appearance at the staff party.
38. Put it on
Meaning: To pretend or exaggerate
Example: Don’t believe him—he’s just putting it on.
39. Put one over on
Meaning: To trick or deceive someone
Example: He tried to put one over on me with that fake receipt.
40. Put paid to
Meaning: To end or destroy something (British English)
Example: The injury put paid to his football career.
Tips for Learning PUT Phrasal Verbs
Start with the most common ones: Focus first on phrasal verbs you’ll use regularly like put off, put on, put up with, and put away.
Learn in context: Don’t just memorize definitions. Read sentences, watch English videos, and notice how native speakers use these expressions naturally.
Practice actively: Try creating your own sentences using each phrasal verb. Write them down, say them aloud, or use them in conversation.
Group by meaning: Some phrasal verbs have similar meanings. Grouping put aside, put away, and put by (all related to saving) can help you remember them better.
Be patient with multiple meanings: Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning. Put down, for example, can mean placing something on a surface, criticizing someone, or writing information. Context will guide you to the correct interpretation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One frequent error learners make is translating phrasal verbs word-by-word from their native language. This rarely works because phrasal verbs often have idiomatic meanings. Always learn them as complete units.
Another mistake is using the wrong preposition or adverb. It’s “put up with” (not “put up to”) when you mean tolerate. Small differences create completely different meanings, so pay attention to these details.
Conclusion
Mastering these 40 phrasal verbs with PUT will significantly boost your English fluency. Remember, becoming comfortable with phrasal verbs takes time and practice. Don’t expect to memorize all of them overnight. Instead, incorporate a few into your daily English practice each week.
Start using these expressions in your conversations, writing, and even your thoughts. The more you encounter and use them, the more natural they’ll become. Before you know it, you’ll be putting these phrasal verbs to use like a native speaker!
Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t put off practicing what you’ve learned today. Your English journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and every phrasal verb you master brings you one step closer to fluency.
