put on

phrasal verb·6 senses·particle on

Meanings

1

Dress yourself in clothing

Wearing

Why “on”? Clothing makes contact with the body. Putting it on covers the surface.

“Put on your coat before going out.”
Dress in your coat before you go outside.
“She put on her raincoat before the walk.”
She dressed in her raincoat before the walk.
“He put his boots on before the hike.”
He dressed himself in his boots before the hike.
2

Host or stage an event

Performance

Why “on”? A role, event, or show is put on for other people to see.

“They put on a wonderful show.”
They organised and presented a wonderful show.
“The school put on a play for parents.”
The school organised and presented a play for parents.
“We're putting on a small dinner for her birthday.”
We're hosting a small dinner to celebrate her birthday.
3

Gain weight

Burden

Why “on”? Weight piles on top of you. What is on you is yours to carry.

“She put on five kilos over winter.”
She gained five kilos in body weight during the winter.
“The dog put on weight after the move.”
The dog became heavier after the move.
“I always put on a few pounds during the festive season.”
I always gain a few pounds over the festive season.
4

Apply onto a surface

Surface

Why “on”? Something touches, grips, or sticks to a surface.

“She put cream on her hands.”
She applied cream to the surface of her hands.
“He put paint on the fence.”
He applied paint to the surface of the fence.
“Put on sunscreen before the run.”
Apply sunscreen to your skin before the run.
5

Cause a device to start running

Power Start

Why “on”? The connection starts. The machine, light, or device begins working.

“Put the heating on.”
Start the heating system running.
“Put the radio on while we cook.”
Start the radio playing while we cook.
6

Pretend to feel or be something

Performance
“He put on a brave face.”
He pretended to be brave.
“He put on a sick voice to stay home.”
He pretended to sound sick so he could stay home.

Don't confuse with

put onput in

Put on means dress yourself in clothing. Put in means install something.

Test yourself

“Put on your coat before going out.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

put in

A contrast learners often mix up

Install something; Invest time or effort

act on

Same on pattern: power start

Take action because of advice or information

bring on

Same on pattern: power start

Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve

catch on

Same on pattern: power start

Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something

click on

Same on pattern: power start

Activate by clicking

come on

Same on pattern: power start

Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Try to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone; Be broadcast on television or radio

dawn on

Same on pattern: power start

Suddenly become understood by someone

dump on

Same on pattern: burden

Unload an unwanted task onto someone

Tell it apart

Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “put on”.

put on vs put off

Practice “put on” in Sink In

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