1 B2 idiomatic informal
To spread a piece of information, rumor, or story among many people.
"Someone has been putting it about that the company is going to close — but it's just a rumor."
inseparable
put it about
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To spread information, gossip, or rumors widely; or (of a person) to be sexually promiscuous.
In plain English
To tell a lot of people something, especially gossip; or to have sex with many different people.
What does "put it about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
To be sexually promiscuous; to have many sexual partners.
"People in the village said he had been putting it about since his divorce."
inseparable
Usage tip
Primarily British English. In the information-spreading sense, often implies rumor or unofficial news. The promiscuity sense is mildly vulgar and should be used with care. 'It' is fixed in the phrase.
Words that pair with "put it about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rumor word news gossip story town
How to conjugate "put it about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put it about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts it about
he/she/it
Past simple
put it about
yesterday
Past participle
put it about
have + pp
-ing form
putting it about
continuous
Hear "put it about" in the wild
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Other ways to say "put it about"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
broadcast circulate gossip let it be known spread around
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