Phrase guide

put on

verb · 28 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌpʊt ˈɒn/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To don (clothing, equipment, or the like).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Why don't you put on your jacket. It's cold.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To decorate or dress (something) onto another person or a surface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, transitive

Examples

  • I put a coat on my daughter.
  • I put tinsel on the Christmas tree.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To fool, kid, deceive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • You must be putting me on.
  • She's putting on that she's sicker than she really is.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To assume, adopt or affect; to behave in a particular way as a pretense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Why are you putting that silly voice on?
  • He's just putting on that limp -- his leg's actually fine.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To play (a recording).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I'll put your favorite record on.
  • Can you put on The Sound of Music? I'd like to see it again.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To play (a recording) on (a sound system).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, transitive

Examples

  • I'll put blues on the stereo.
  • We usually put the Beatles on on my boombox.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To initiate cooking or warming, especially on a stovetop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I'll put on some coffee for everybody.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To perform for an audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The actors put on a show last Saturday.
  • The actors will put Macbeth on only one more time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To organize a performance for an audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The theatre company is putting on Into the Woods this season.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To provide.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To bet (money or other items) on (something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, transitive

Examples

  • I put five pounds on that racehorse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To assign or apply (something) to a target.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, transitive

Examples

  • The gang boss put some goons on the other gang.
  • The witch put a hex on me.
  • This puts a completely different hue on the matter.
  • Carl has been put on the front desk for tonight's shift.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To give (someone) a role in popular media.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I hope they put me on TV.
  • They put her on a billboard.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To set (movie, show, song, etc.) to play on a screen.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I put SpongeBob on when the kid gets fussy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To switch on (a device).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

To gain (weight).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I put on at least five kilos over the holidays.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

verb

Meaning 17

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see put, on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He put the pen on the table.
  • Put it on the list.
  • The doctor put me on a diet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

verb

Meaning 18

To hurry up; to move swiftly forward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

adjective satellite

Meaning 19

adopted in order to deceive

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an assumed name
  • an assumed cheerfulness
  • a fictitious address
  • fictive sympathy
  • a pretended interest
  • a put-on childish voice
  • sham modesty

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assumed, false, fictitious, fictive, pretended, sham

Antonyms: none provided

20

verb

Meaning 20

increase (one's body weight)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gain

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change state, turn

Narrower terms: round, flesh out, fill out, pack on

21

verb

Meaning 21

put clothing on one's body

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • What should I wear today?
  • He put on his best suit for the wedding
  • The princess donned a long blue dress
  • The queen assumed the stately robes
  • He got into his jeans

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wear, get into, don, assume

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dress, get dressed

Narrower terms: hat, try on, try, scarf, slip on

22

verb

Meaning 22

add to something existing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She put on a sun room

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: add

23

verb

Meaning 23

add to the odometer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He put on 1,000 miles on this trip

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: add

24

verb

Meaning 24

fool or hoax

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone
  • You can't fool me!

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deceive, betray, lead astray

Narrower terms: pull the leg of, kid

25

verb

Meaning 25

apply to a surface

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She applied paint to the back of the house
  • Put on make-up!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apply

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cover

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

26

verb

Meaning 26

prepare and supply with the necessary equipment for execution or performance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • mount a theater production
  • mount an attack
  • mount a play

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mount

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: organize, organise, prepare, devise, get up, machinate

Narrower terms: rerun

27

verb

Meaning 27

carry out (performances)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • They turned in a splendid effort
  • They turned in top jobs for the second straight game

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn in

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: make, create

28

verb

Meaning 28

put on the stove or ready for cooking

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • put on the tea, please!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cook, fix, ready, make, prepare

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

135 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: لَبِسَ (labisa) — to don
  • Arabic: اِرْتَدَى (irtadā) — to don
  • Arabic: لبس (libis, labss) — to don
  • Arabic: دار (dær) — to don
  • Arabic: لْبس (lbəs) — to don
  • Azerbaijani: taxmaq — to don
  • Azerbaijani: geymək — to don
  • Bashkir: кейеү (keyew) — to don
  • Belarusian: надзява́ць (nadzjavácʹ) — to don
  • Belarusian: надзе́ць (nadzjécʹ) — to don
  • Bulgarian: обли́чам (oblíčam) — to don
  • Bulgarian: облека́ (obleká) — to don
  • Catalan: posar-se — to don
  • Chinese Mandarin: 穿上 (chuānshang) — to don
  • Chinese Mandarin: 穿 (chuān) — to don
  • Ngazidja Comorian: upvamɓa — to don
  • Ngazidja Comorian: nkabwa — to don
  • Czech: oblékat — to don
  • Czech: obléct — to don
  • Danish: iføre sig — to don
  • Danish: tage på — to don
  • Dutch: aantrekken — to don
  • Dutch: opzetten (headgear) — to don
  • Esperanto: surmeti — to don
  • Finnish: pukea ylleen — to don
  • Finnish: laittaa päälle — to don
  • Finnish: panna päälle — to don
  • Finnish: pistää päälle — to don
  • French: mettre — to don
  • French: enfiler — to don
  • Friulian: vistî — to don
  • German: anziehen — to don
  • German: aufsetzen (headgear) — to don
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌼𐍉𐌽 (gahamōn) — to don
  • Greek: βάζω (vázo) — to don
  • Ancient Greek: ἕννυμι (hénnumi) — to don
  • Ancient Greek: ἐνδύω (endúō) — to don
  • Ancient Greek: βιβάζω (bibázō) — to don
  • Greenlandic: ativaa — to don
  • Hebrew: לבש (lavásh) — to don
  • Hindi: पहनना (pahannā) — to don
  • Hungarian: felvesz — to don
  • Icelandic: fara í — to don
  • Ido: metar — to don
  • Irish: cuir ar — to don
  • Italian: vestire — to don
  • Italian: indossare — to don
  • Japanese: 着る (kiru) — to don
  • Japanese: 履く (haku) — to don
  • Japanese: 被る (kaburu) — to don
  • Khmer: ពាក់ (pĕək) — to don
  • Korean: 입다 (ipda) — to don
  • Lao: ໃສ່ (sai) — to don
  • Latgalian: maukt — to don
  • Latgalian: viļkt — to don
  • Latin: induō — to don
  • Latin: sūmō — to don
  • Latvian: vilkt — to don
  • Latvian: aut — to don
  • Lithuanian: auti — to don
  • Macedonian: облекува (oblekuva) — to don
  • Old English: dōn on — to don
  • Pashto: اغوستل (aγustəl) — to don
  • Persian: پوشیدن (pušidan) — to don
  • Polish: wkładać — to don
  • Polish: włożyć — to don
  • Portuguese: vestir — to don
  • Portuguese: pôr — to don
  • Portuguese: colocar — to don
  • Portuguese: botar — to don
  • Russian: надева́ть (nadevátʹ) — to don
  • Russian: наде́ть (nadétʹ) — to don
  • Sanskrit: प्रवस्ते (pravaste) — to don
  • Sanskrit: वस्ते (vaste) — to don
  • Serbo-Croatian: обући — to don
  • Serbo-Croatian: obući — to don
  • Sidamo: wodhdha — to don
  • Slovak: obliekať — to don
  • Slovak: obliecť — to don
  • Slovene: obléči — to don
  • Spanish: ponerse — to don
  • Swedish: sätta på sig — to don
  • Thai: ใส่ (sài) — to don
  • Thai: สวมใส่ (sǔuam-sài) — to don
  • Thai: สวม (sǔuam) — to don
  • Thai: ครอง (krɔɔng) — to don
  • Tocharian B: wäs- — to don
  • Turkish: giymek — to don
  • Ukrainian: надіва́ти (nadiváty) — to don
  • Ukrainian: надяга́ти (nadjaháty) — to don
  • Ukrainian: наді́ти (nadíty) — to don
  • Ukrainian: вдяга́ти (vdjaháty) — to don
  • Ukrainian: одягти́ (odjahtý) — to don
  • Urdu: پہننا (pahannā) — to don
  • Vietnamese: mặc vào — to don
  • Vietnamese: đeo vào — to don
  • Vietnamese: đi vào — to don
  • Walloon: mete — to don
  • Yiddish: אָנטאָן (onton) — to don
  • Arabic: لبس (labbis, labbas) — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Dutch: aantrekken — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Dutch: aandoen — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Esperanto: surmeti — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • German: anziehen — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Hebrew: הלביש (hilbísh) — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Icelandic: klæða — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Irish: gléas — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Italian: vestire — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Pennsylvania German: aabappe — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Swedish: klä på — to decorate or dress (something) onto
  • Finnish: vedättää — to fool, kid, deceive
  • Finnish: laskea leikkiä — to fool, kid, deceive
  • Finnish: pelleillä — to fool, kid, deceive
  • Finnish: vitsailla — to fool, kid, deceive
  • Finnish: teeskennellä — to behave in a particular way as a pretense
  • Chinese Cantonese: 放 (fong3) — to play (a recording)
  • Dutch: opzetten — to play (a recording)
  • Finnish: soittaa — to play (a recording)
  • Finnish: laittaa soimaan — to play (a recording)
  • Finnish: panna soimaan — to play (a recording)
  • Finnish: pistää soimaan — to play (a recording)
  • Hungarian: feltesz — to play (a recording)
  • Hungarian: betesz — to play (a recording)
  • Hungarian: berak — to play (a recording)
  • Russian: ста́вить (stávitʹ) — to play (a recording)
  • Russian: поста́вить (postávitʹ) — to play (a recording)
  • Finnish: laittaa tulemaan — to initiate cooking or warming
  • Bulgarian: представям (predstavjam) — to perform for an audience
  • Finnish: esittää — to perform for an audience
  • Finnish: esiintyä — to perform for an audience
  • Finnish: esittää — to organize a performance for an audience
  • Finnish: esiintyä — to organize a performance for an audience
  • German: zulegen — to gain (weight)
  • Irish: cuir suas — to gain (weight)
  • Finnish: painua tiehensä — (obsolete) to hurry up