put out
B2Neutral to informal for 'annoy'; formal for 'publish' or 'invest'.
Definition
Meaning
To extinguish or cause to stop burning; to place something outside; to cause inconvenience or annoyance.
To make something publicly available; to invest money or effort; to dislocate a joint; to render someone unconscious; (in baseball) to cause a batter or runner to be out.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly context-dependent phrasal verb with over a dozen distinct meanings. The meaning shifts dramatically based on the object (e.g., 'put out a fire' vs. 'put out a statement' vs. 'feel put out').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'annoyed' meaning is slightly more common in British English. In American sports commentary, 'put out' is standard baseball terminology. The phrase 'put out to pasture' (to retire) is equally common in both.
Connotations
The informal sense of 'sexually available' (vulgar slang) is strong in both varieties, requiring careful context.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties due to its numerous core and idiomatic uses.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[put] + [object] + [out][put] + [out] + [object][be] + [put out] (adjective)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “put out to pasture (retire)”
- “put out the welcome mat”
- “put out feelers (investigate)”
- “put out a fire (solve an urgent problem)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The company will put out its quarterly results tomorrow.' (issue)
Academic
'The researcher put out a new hypothesis for peer review.'
Everyday
'Could you put the bins out for collection?'
Technical
'The engine put out 300 horsepower.' (produce)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council told us to put our recycling out on Tuesday.
- She was really put out by the last-minute cancellation.
- The studio will put out a sequel next year.
American English
- Firefighters put out the blaze in under an hour.
- He put out $500 for the new starter motor.
- The shortstop put out the runner with a perfect throw.
adjective
British English
- He had a put-out expression when he heard the news.
- She seemed genuinely put out by the extra work.
American English
- Don't be so put out; it's just a minor change.
- The put-out homeowner surveyed the damage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please put out the candles before you go to bed.
- I put the empty bottles out for recycling.
- The government put out a warning about the storm.
- He put his shoulder out playing rugby.
- The publisher put out a call for new manuscripts.
- We shouldn't have to put ourselves out for such ungrateful clients.
- The central bank put out billions in liquidity to stabilise the markets.
- Her brusque manner put out many of her colleagues, creating a tense atmosphere.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine putting a burning log OUT of the house. The core idea is moving something from 'in' to 'out', or causing an active state (like fire) to stop.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION IS EMISSION (put out a report), INCONVENIENCE IS PHYSICAL DISLOCATION (feel put out), SUPPRESSION IS EXTINGUISHING (put out a rebellion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'выкладывать' (to lay out) for online content. 'Put out' for 'publish' is broader. Confusion with 'убирать' (to tidy) – 'put out the rubbish' is specific to placing outside.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect particle order: 'Put the fire out' (correct) vs. 'Put out it' (incorrect for pronouns; must be 'Put it out'). Using 'put out' for 'switch off' a light (less common). Overusing the 'annoyed' meaning in formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'I was quite put out by his rudeness,' what does 'put out' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'put the fire out' or 'put out the fire'. With pronoun objects, separation is mandatory: 'Put it out' (correct), 'Put out it' (incorrect).
'Put out' implies stopping combustion (fire, candle). 'Turn off' or 'switch off' is for electrical devices. You put out a cigarette but turn off a lamp.
Yes, the past participle 'put out' can function as an adjective meaning 'annoyed' or 'inconvenienced', e.g., 'She looked very put out.'
It depends on the meaning. 'Put out a statement' is formal. 'Feel put out' (annoyed) is informal. The slang meaning related to sex is vulgar and inappropriate for formal contexts.