put up
B1Neutral, with some phrasal verb uses leaning informal.
Definition
Meaning
To place something in a raised position, to erect or install something, or to temporarily provide accommodation for someone.
To tolerate or endure something; to offer resistance; to propose a candidate or idea; to contribute money; to increase a price; to preserve food.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous phrasal verb whose meaning depends entirely on the direct object or prepositional phrase that follows (e.g., put up a shelf vs. put up with noise vs. put someone up).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal, though 'put up the rent' is slightly more common in British English. 'Put up' meaning to preserve (jam) is strongly British. The noun 'put-up job' (a fake/rigged situation) is more common in US English.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The 'provide accommodation' sense is neutral; 'put up with' has a mild negative connotation of reluctant tolerance.
Frequency
Both varieties use it frequently, with 'put up with' being a very common collocation for 'tolerate'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[put] + [object] + [up] + (with + [object])[put] + [object] + [up] + (for + [noun phrase])[put] + [up] + [object][put] + [object] + [up]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “put up or shut up”
- “put up a brave front”
- “a put-up job”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We had to put up prices due to increased costs." (raise)
Academic
"The theory was put up for debate by the visiting scholar." (proposed)
Everyday
"Can you put me up for a couple of nights?" (provide lodging) / "I can't put up with his constant complaining." (tolerate)
Technical
"The team will put up the scaffolding tomorrow." (erect/install)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We'll need to put up some shelves in the new kitchen.
- She puts up a kilo of strawberries every summer.
- Could you put my cousin up when she visits London?
American English
- The store put up all their Halloween decorations early.
- I'm not going to put up with this nonsense anymore.
- They put up a strong argument against the proposal.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard for this phrase)
American English
- (Not standard for this phrase)
adjective
British English
- It was a clearly put-up job to frame the innocent man. (colloquial, as in 'rigged')
American English
- He claimed the whole investigation was a put-up job. (colloquial, as in 'rigged')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please put up your hand if you know the answer.
- We put up a Christmas tree in December.
- The hotel put up their prices during the festival.
- My aunt put me up for the weekend.
- The opposition put up surprisingly little resistance to the new law.
- Investors were asked to put up half the capital.
- The residents' association put up a candidate for the local council.
- She puts up a facade of confidence, but she's actually quite nervous.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine putting your hand UP to answer a question (offer), then putting a poster UP on the wall (place), and finally having to put UP with a noisy neighbour (tolerate). One phrase, three key actions.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOLERANCE IS HOLDING SOMETHING UP ("put up with") where the burden is a physical object one must support; IDEAS/OBJECTS ARE PHYSICALLY ELEVATED ("put up a proposal").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'put up' (размещать, терпеть) with 'put on' (надевать).
- "Put up a guest" means to let them stay, not to physically lift them.
- Avoid direct translation of 'put up with' as 'ставить с' – it's always 'мириться с' or 'терпеть'.
- "Put up the price" is повысить цену, not положить цену.
Common Mistakes
- *I put up him for the night. (Correct: I put him up for the night.) - object pronoun goes before 'up'.
- *She put up a new dress. (Likely meant: She put on a new dress.)
- Using 'put up' without an object where one is needed: *We decided to put up. (Needs: ...put up a tent/a fight/the money.)
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The rebels put up a fierce fight,' what does 'put up' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in most of its meanings. For example: 'Put the picture up' or 'Put up the picture.' However, 'put up with' (tolerate) is inseparable: 'I put up with it' NOT 'I put it up with.'
'Put up' often implies simpler, quicker erection or placement (a poster, a hand, a guest). 'Set up' implies more complex preparation or establishment (a business, a computer system, a meeting).
Yes, in some senses. E.g., 'A new statue was put up in the square.' (erected) or 'I was put up by friends.' (accommodated). It sounds odd with 'put up with': 'The noise was put up with by everyone' is grammatically possible but very unnatural.
It is neutral to informal. The 'tolerate' sense ('put up with') is common in everyday speech. In very formal writing, alternatives like 'tolerate', 'endure', 'erect', or 'accommodate' might be preferred depending on the specific meaning.