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."
separable
put up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To erect or display something; to provide accommodation for someone; to provide money; to offer resistance; to nominate someone for a position.
In plain English
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.
What does "put up" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To provide or contribute money for something.
"A local businesswoman put up the funds for the new community center."
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To raise or place something in an upward position — transparent in some senses.
Actually means
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.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "put up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tent sign money fight guest poster
How to conjugate "put up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "put up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "put up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "put up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
accommodate erect fund lodge nominate raise
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