put by: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (Intermediate-High)Informal, somewhat old-fashioned
Quick answer
What does “put by” mean?
To save money or resources for future use.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To save money or resources for future use.
To set aside or store something; to reserve for later; to disregard or ignore.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More frequent and natural in British English. In American English, 'set aside', 'save up', or 'squirrel away' are often preferred.
Connotations
In BrE, it often connotes prudent, careful saving, sometimes with a slight old-fashioned or frugal nuance. In AmE, it may sound slightly quaint or literary.
Frequency
Significantly more common in British English corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “put by” in a Sentence
[Subject] + put by + [Object] (money/food)[Subject] + put + [Object] + by + [Optional: for phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “put by” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She's been putting by a bit every month for her holiday.
- My grandmother always told me to put something by for emergencies.
- We'd better put by some tinned food in case of bad weather.
American English
- He tries to put by a little from each paycheck. (Less common, understood)
- They had the foresight to put by some savings. (Literary/older style)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in formal business contexts. Might appear in informal advice like 'We should put by some of this quarter's profit.'
Academic
Very rare.
Everyday
Used in personal finance contexts among older speakers or in regions where the phrase is common.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “put by”
- *I put by to buy a car. (Missing object) -> Correct: I put *money* by to buy a car.
- Using it in a formal register where 'allocate' or 'reserve' would be better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally informal and can sound somewhat old-fashioned, especially in American English.
They are often interchangeable for saving/storing. However, 'put aside' is more common in all varieties of English and has a stronger meaning of 'to ignore' (e.g., 'put aside your differences'). 'Put by' is almost exclusively about saving/reserving.
It's very unusual. 'Put by' collocates strongly with tangible resources like money, food, or supplies, not abstract concepts like time.
Yes. You can say 'put some money by' or 'put by some money'. Both are correct.
To save money or resources for future use.
Put by: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈbaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈbaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put something by for a rainy day”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine putting coins BY the side of your bed, saving them for later.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAVING IS PUTTING SOMETHING IN A SAFE PLACE (spatial metaphor).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'put by'?