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put up

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To build or put something in a place; to let someone sleep at your house; to give money for something; to try to fight back.

Literal meaning: To raise or place something in an upward position — transparent in some senses.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To build, erect, or display something such as a sign, tent, or building.

"They put up a new fence around the garden last weekend."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 idiomatic informal

To provide someone with a place to stay overnight.

"Can you put me up for the night? My train doesn't leave until the morning."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To provide or contribute money for something.

"A local businesswoman put up the funds for the new community center."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral

To offer or show resistance, especially in the phrase 'put up a fight.'

"The team put up a brave fight, but they lost in the final minutes."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Extremely versatile and common. The accommodation sense ('put up a friend') is very informal and conversational. 'Put up money' means to provide funds. 'Put up a fight' means to resist. The erecting sense covers buildings, signs, and decorations. 'Put up or shut up' is a fixed expression meaning to act or stop complaining.

Commonly used with

tent sign money fight guest poster

Forms

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

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Synonyms

erect raise accommodate lodge fund nominate

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