put on

I

verb

1. put clothing on one's body (Freq. 18)

-

What should I wear today?

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He put on his best suit for the wedding

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The princess donned a long blue dress

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The queen assumed the stately robes

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He got into his jeans

• Syn: ↑wear, ↑get into, ↑don, ↑assume

• Derivationally related forms: ↑wearable (for: ↑wear), ↑wear (for: ↑wear)

• Hypernyms: ↑dress, ↑get dressed

• Hyponyms: ↑hat, ↑try on, ↑try, ↑scarf, ↑slip on

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

2. add to something existing (Freq. 3)

-

She put on a sun room

• Hypernyms: ↑add

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something PP

3. put on the stove or ready for cooking (Freq. 2)

-

put on the tea, please!

• Topics: ↑cooking, ↑cookery, ↑preparation

• Hypernyms: ↑cook, ↑fix, ↑ready, ↑make, ↑prepare

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

The chefs put on the vegetables

4. carry out (performances) (Freq. 1)

-

They turned in a splendid effort

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They turned in top jobs for the second straight game

• Syn: ↑turn in

• Hypernyms: ↑make, ↑create

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

5. add to the odometer (Freq. 1)

-

He put on 1,000 miles on this trip

• Hypernyms: ↑add

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

6. prepare and supply with the necessary equipment for execution or performance

-

mount a theater production

-

mount an attack

-

mount a play

• Syn: ↑mount

• Hypernyms: ↑organize, ↑organise, ↑prepare, ↑devise, ↑get up, ↑machinate

• Hyponyms: ↑rerun

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

7. increase (one's body weight)

-

She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising

• Syn: ↑gain

• Ant: ↑reduce (for: ↑gain)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑gainer (for: ↑gain)

• Hypernyms: ↑change state, ↑turn

• Hyponyms: ↑round, ↑flesh out, ↑fill out, ↑pack on

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s something

(for: ↑gain)

8. fool or hoax

-

The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone

-

You can't fool me!

• Syn:

↑gull, ↑dupe, ↑slang, ↑befool, ↑cod, ↑fool, ↑take in, ↑put one over, ↑put one across

• Derivationally related forms: ↑take-in (for: ↑take in), ↑put-on, ↑fool (for: ↑fool), ↑dupe (for: ↑dupe), ↑dupery (for: ↑dupe), ↑gull (for: ↑gull)

• Hypernyms: ↑deceive, ↑betray, ↑lead astray

• Hyponyms: ↑pull the leg of, ↑kid

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

Somebody ——s PP

(for: ↑put one over)

9. apply to a surface

-

She applied paint to the back of the house

-

Put on make-up!

• Syn: ↑apply

• Derivationally related forms: ↑application (for: ↑apply), ↑applier (for: ↑apply)

• Hypernyms: ↑cover

• Hyponyms:

↑dab, ↑swab, ↑swob, ↑daub, ↑gum, ↑dress, ↑cream, ↑cold-cream, ↑putty, ↑sponge on, ↑slap on, ↑clap on, ↑slam on

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something PP

II

adjective

adopted in order to deceive

-

an assumed name

-

an assumed cheerfulness

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a fictitious address

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fictive sympathy

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a pretended interest

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a put-on childish voice

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sham modesty

• Syn: ↑assumed, ↑false, ↑fictitious, ↑fictive, ↑pretended, ↑sham

• Similar to: ↑counterfeit, ↑imitative

• Derivationally related forms: ↑sham (for: ↑sham), ↑fiction (for: ↑fictitious), ↑falseness (for: ↑false)

* * *

put on [phrasal verb]

1 put (something) on or put on (something)

1 a : to dress yourself in (clothing)

She put on her new dress.

Put on a hat and gloves.

I'll put some clothes on and be right there.

1 b : to apply (something) to your face or body

putting on lipstick/mascara/lotion

She puts on far too much makeup.

We tried to put on a happy/brave face [=we tried to appear happy/brave] despite our concern.

1 c : to add to or increase the amount of (something)

The fire was getting low and we needed to put on more wood.

She put on [=gained] 40 pounds during her pregnancy.

He's put on some weight recently.

1 d : to cause (a machine, a light, etc.) to begin to work

Would you mind if I put [=turned] the TV on?

Somebody put on the lights.

1 e : to cause (something) to begin to be heard, seen, produced, etc.

put on a record/CD/album

putting on some music

We put on the air-conditioning/heat in the car.

1 f : to start cooking or making (something)

Let me know when to put on the rice.

He put on a pot of coffee for his guests.

1 g : to produce (something that entertains people, such as a play, a party, etc.)

They're putting on a concert.

He always puts on a great show/performance.

The town puts on a fireworks display every Independence Day.

We are putting on a barbecue for everyone in the neighborhood.

2 put (something) on (someone or something)

2 a : to say that (someone or something) is responsible for or guilty of (something)

Responsibility for the accident was put on the other driver.

He puts much of the blame for his problems on the government.

2 b : to bet (an amount of money) on (someone or something)

We put $2 on the favorite to win.

putting money on horse races

3 put (someone or something) on (something) : to add (someone or something) to (a list or group of related things)

She asked to have her name put on the list of candidates.

They put her on the list.

We put several new dishes on the menu.

“Bartender, I'll have another beer.” “Okay, I'll put it on your bill.”

4 put (someone) on or put on (someone) chiefly US, informal : to say things that are not true to (someone) in a joking way : to trick or fool (someone) for amusement

He said he knew the President, but I think he was just putting me on. [=(Brit) having me on]

— see also ↑put-on, 2

5

— used to say that you would like to speak to someone on the phone

Hi Dad. Could you put Mom on? [=could you give Mom the phone so that I can speak to her?]

Put Dave on the phone, please.

6 put (someone) on (something) : to tell (someone) to use or do (something)

Her doctor put her on medication. [=her doctor prescribed medication for her]

He decided to put himself on a diet. [=to go on a diet]

7 put (someone) on to (something) : to give (someone) information about (something) : to tell (someone) about (something that he or she did not know about before)

A friend of mine put me on to this book in high school.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑put