put-up

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpu̇t-ˈəp

: arranged secretly beforehand

a put-up job

put up

2 of 2

verb

put up; putting up; puts up

transitive verb

: to place in a container or receptacle

put his lunch up in a bag

: to put away (a sword) in a scabbard : sheathe

: to prepare so as to preserve for later use : can

: to put in storage

: to start (game animals) from cover

: to nominate for election

: to offer up (something, such as a prayer)

: set sense 16

: to make available

especially : to offer for public sale

put their possessions up for auction

: to give food and shelter to : accommodate

: to arrange (a plot, a scheme, etc.) with others

put up a job to steal the jewels

: build, erect

: to make a display of

put up a brave front

: to engage in

put up a struggle

: contribute, pay

put up bail money

: to offer as a prize or stake

chiefly British : to increase the amount of : raise

: to succeed in producing or achieving

an athlete who has put up big numbers

also : score sense 4a(1)

put up 20 points

intransitive verb

: lodge

: to take direct action

—used in the phrase put up or shut up

Phrases

put one up to

: to incite one to (a course of action)

they put him up to playing the prank

put up with

: to endure or tolerate without complaint or attempt at reprisal

Examples of put-up in a Sentence

Verb the builders put up the walls before starting on the roof plans to put up a pavilion in the public gardens

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Sadly, one of those theories was promoted by Utah senator Mike Lee, who spread the risible idea that the whole Capitol riot was some sort of put-up job by the feds rather than criminal misconduct by Trump supporters. —

Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

Verb

As our film contract stipulates, Han and Leo have been put up in the Bowery Hotel during the two-day shoot — two days, at least, when the loft is safe — and the location scout grabs photos of the destruction. —

Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024 Lacey puts up no argument, kisses Jack, then walks away from her boyfriend, who, again, was just killed in public by the cops. —

Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for put-up

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1810, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of put-up was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Put-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put-up. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

put up

verb

: to prepare for later use

put up a lunch

especially : can entry 3 sense 1

put up peaches

: to put away out of use

put up your sword

: to nominate for election

: to offer for public sale

put their possessions up for auction

: to give or obtain food and shelter : lodge

put us up overnight

: build entry 1 sense 1, erect

: carry on sense 2

put up a struggle

: to make available

put up a prize for the best essay

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put-up

adjective

verb

Synonyms

Examples of put-up in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near put-up

Cite this Entry