1 B2 neutral
To save money or goods regularly for future use.
"My grandfather put by a little each week from his wages and never touched it until retirement."
separable
put by
B2 neutral separable transitive
To save money or goods regularly for use in the future.
In plain English
To save a little money or food regularly so you have it when you need it later.
What does "put by" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To place something to one side for later.
Actually means
To save a little money or food regularly so you have it when you need it later.
Usage tip
Somewhat old-fashioned and more common in British English. Often used for small, regular savings or food preservation. Less common in everyday modern speech, where 'put aside' or 'save up' are more typical.
Words that pair with "put by"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money savings food supplies a sum provisions
How to conjugate "put by"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts by
he/she/it
Past simple
put by
yesterday
Past participle
put by
have + pp
-ing form
putting by
continuous
Hear "put by" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "put by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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