put under

B1 neutral separable transitive

In simple words

To give someone medicine before an operation so they go to sleep and don't feel anything; or to place someone under someone's rule or control.

Literal meaning: To place something beneath something else — transparent in its literal spatial sense.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

common

To give someone a general anesthetic so they are unconscious during a medical procedure.

"The surgeon explained that they would need to put me under for the operation."

Grammar: separable

2 B2 formal

uncommon

To place someone under the authority, control, or influence of a person or institution.

"The failing company was put under government administration."

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

The anesthesia sense is the most common colloquial use and is used by both medical professionals and patients. The 'under control' sense is more formal and less frequent. Also used in phrases like 'put under pressure' and 'put under surveillance.'

Commonly used with

anesthetic general anesthetic pressure surveillance control oath

Forms

Base

put under

I/you/we/they

3rd person

puts under

he/she/it

Past simple

put under

yesterday

Past participle

put under

have + pp

-ing form

putting under

continuous

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Synonyms

anesthetize sedate knock out subject to place under

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