putout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal for adjective; Specialised/Technical (baseball) for noun; General for verb.
Quick answer
What does “putout” mean?
(noun, baseball) A play in which a batter or base runner is retired.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(noun, baseball) A play in which a batter or base runner is retired.
(verb, "to put out") To extinguish (e.g., a fire); to produce or publish (e.g., a report); to cause inconvenience or offence; to dislocate (e.g., a joint). (adjective, "put-out") Feeling offended or inconvenienced.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun 'putout' is understood in UK English but is far less common than in the US due to baseball's lower cultural prominence. The adjective 'put-out' (offended) is used in both.
Connotations
In US English, 'putout' (noun) is a neutral technical term. In UK English, it may be perceived as an Americanism.
Frequency
High frequency in US sports media; low frequency in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “putout” in a Sentence
NP put out NP (transitive, separable)NP be put out by NP (passive, adjective sense)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “putout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could you put the cat out before bed?
- The publisher will put out the new edition next month.
American English
- Please put out the recycling on Tuesday.
- The company put out a press release yesterday.
adjective
British English
- She was quite put-out when they arrived late.
American English
- He seemed a little put-out by the sudden change of plans.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in 'put out a tender' or 'put out a statement'.
Academic
Rare, except in sports science literature.
Everyday
Common for the verb meaning 'extinguish' (put out the rubbish) or the adjective meaning 'offended'.
Technical
Core term in baseball scoring and statistics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “putout”
- Using 'putout' as a verb without a space (e.g., *'I will putout the fire').
- Confusing the noun 'putout' with the general concept of 'output'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun specific to baseball, it is one word ('putout'). The verb is always two words ('to put out'). The adjective is usually hyphenated ('put-out').
No. 'Putout' is not synonymous with 'output'. 'Output' relates to production or results, while 'putout' is specific to baseball or the act of extinguishing/inconveniencing.
The past tense is 'put out' (e.g., 'Yesterday, they put out the fire'). The verb 'put' is irregular and does not change form.
No, it is considered informal. More formal synonyms for feeling offended are 'aggrieved', 'displeased', or 'irked'.
(noun, baseball) A play in which a batter or base runner is retired.
Putout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʊtaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpʊtˌaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “put out feelers”
- “put out the welcome mat”
- “put someone's nose out of joint”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
In baseball, a PUTOUT is when you PUT a runner OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS PUTTING OUT (e.g., put out a fire, put out a runner).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'putout' used as a single, unhyphenated noun?