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put through

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To connect a phone call to someone; or to make someone experience something hard; or to get something officially approved.

Literal meaning: To move something through a barrier or system — partially transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To connect a telephone call to a person or department.

"Could you put me through to the manager, please?"

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To cause someone to experience something difficult or unpleasant.

"She put her family through a lot of worry when she disappeared without leaving a note."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 formal

To successfully complete a process, get something approved, or see something through official channels.

"The government managed to put the legislation through before the end of the session."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral

To pay for someone's education or training.

"His parents worked two jobs each to put him through university."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The phone sense is the most concrete and common. The 'causing to experience' sense often implies hardship: 'put someone through a lot.' The administrative sense is more formal: 'put a bill through Parliament.' Separable in most senses.

Commonly used with

call ordeal paces university Parliament process

Forms

Base
put through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts through
he/she/it
Past simple
put through
yesterday
Past participle
put through
have + pp
-ing form
putting through
continuous

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Synonyms

connect transfer subject to see through process complete

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