1 B2 formal
To present a question, proposal, or decision to someone or a group.
"The matter was put to the committee, who voted in favor of the proposal."
inseparable
put to
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To submit a question or proposal to someone; to apply something to a use or purpose; to cause someone to experience something.
In plain English
To ask someone a serious question or give them a task; or to use something for a particular purpose.
What does "put to" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To use something for a specific purpose (often 'put to use' or 'put to good use').
"All those old textbooks were finally put to good use when she started tutoring."
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
To make someone start working or to put someone in a difficult situation.
"As soon as they arrived, the children were put to work peeling vegetables."
inseparable
Usage tip
Used in formal and neutral registers. 'Put to the vote' means to ask people to vote on something. 'Put to use' means to use something productively. 'Put to work' means to make someone start working. 'Put to sleep' has a gentle euphemistic meaning in the context of euthanizing animals.
Words that pair with "put to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
vote use work sleep test question
How to conjugate "put to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts to
he/she/it
Past simple
put to
yesterday
Past participle
put to
have + pp
-ing form
putting to
continuous
Hear "put to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "put to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "put to"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
apply to assign to present to subject to submit to
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.