1 B1 idiomatic neutral
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."
separable
put under
B1 neutral separable transitive
To administer general anesthesia to someone before a medical operation; or to place someone under authority or control.
In plain English
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.
What does "put under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 formal
To place someone under the authority, control, or influence of a person or institution.
"The failing company was put under government administration."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To place something beneath something else — transparent in its literal spatial sense.
Actually means
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.
Usage tip
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.'
Words that pair with "put under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
anesthetic general anesthetic pressure surveillance control oath
How to conjugate "put under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "put under" in the wild
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Other ways to say "put under"
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