put out
4 meanings
release something to the public (information, products)
What does "put out" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The police put out a warning about pickpockets operating near the station.
- The company put a statement out denying any involvement in the scandal.
- She's put out three albums in the last five years, each one more successful than the last.
How to use it
The most common pattern: the subject actively distributes a piece of information, media, or announcement to an audience.
The government put out an official statement explaining the new regulations.
With shorter noun objects, the verb and particle are often separated, placing the object in between.
As soon as the incident was confirmed, the council put a warning out to local residents.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'put' and 'out' — placing it after 'out' is not possible.
We drafted the press release this morning and will put it out this afternoon.
The passive is natural and common, especially in journalism when the source of the announcement is already known or less important than the announcement itself.
An appeal for witnesses has been put out by the local police force.
Used when a person or company releases a new creative or commercial product to the public.
The band has put out their most ambitious record to date.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Put up' is used for posting or displaying content in a specific place, such as a notice on a wall or a video online. 'Put out' suggests broadcasting or distributing something to a wide audience — use 'put out' for warnings, press releases, and albums, not for pinning or uploading.
When using a pronoun as the object, it must go between 'put' and 'out'. Placing the pronoun after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.
This sense of 'put out' requires an object related to information, media, or content — like a statement, warning, or album. Using it with objects like 'fire' or a person's name signals a completely different meaning.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. It is slightly more informal than 'issue' or 'release', making it common in news reports, everyday conversation, and informal writing.
stop a fire or light from burning
Sense 2: What does "put sth out" mean?
Examples
- It took the firefighters over an hour to put out the blaze.
- Can you put the candle out before you go to sleep?
- The fire has finally been put out.
How to use it
The most common pattern, used when the object (a fire, flame, or candle) comes directly after the particle.
The campers put out the fire before they left for the night.
With short noun objects, the object very naturally goes between the verb and the particle.
She put the candle out and climbed into bed.
When you use a pronoun, it must always go between 'put' and 'out' — never after 'out'.
The match was still burning, so he quickly put it out.
The passive form is natural and common, especially in news reports or when the focus is on the fire rather than the person acting.
The blaze was put out after several hours of work by the fire brigade.
Used with modal verbs to talk about ability, possibility, or instructions related to extinguishing something.
You can put out a small campfire with a bucket of water.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Put out' is only for things that are actually burning, like candles or fires. For lights controlled by a switch, use 'turn off' instead.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'put' and 'out'. Placing it after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.
'Put out' has other meanings in English — for example, it can mean to inconvenience someone ('I don't want to put you out'). In this sense, the object is always a person, not a flame. When you see 'put out', check what the object is to understand which meaning is being used.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and used in both everyday speech and formal contexts like news reports. With pronoun objects, always separate: say 'put it out', never 'put out it'.
place something where it can be seen or used
Sense 3: What does "put sth out" mean?
Examples
- I've put out some chairs and blankets for the guests in the garden.
- Could you put the towels out before the visitors arrive?
- She put out a selection of cheeses and crackers on the table.
How to use it
With short noun objects, the verb and particle are separated, with the object placed in between. This is the most common pattern.
He put some extra chairs out for the party.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'put' and 'out' — it cannot follow the particle.
The napkins are in the drawer — can you put them out before everyone arrives?
When the object is a longer noun phrase, it more naturally follows the particle unseparated.
She put out a selection of drinks and snacks for her colleagues.
The passive form is natural and commonly used in instructions or descriptions of preparations made in advance.
Fresh towels and toiletries have been put out in each room.
This phrasal verb frequently appears with modal and planning expressions, especially when listing tasks to complete.
Remember to put out the welcome mat before the guests arrive.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'them' or 'it', it must go between 'put' and 'out'. Placing it after the particle is ungrammatical in English.
'Set out' suggests a more deliberate or formal arrangement, while 'put out' simply means making items available. Both are correct in many situations, but 'put out' is the more casual, everyday choice — it does not suggest careful positioning.
'Put out' has other meanings in English. If the object is a fire, candle, or cigarette, it means to extinguish. If the object is a person, it means to cause inconvenience. This sense — placing items for others to use — always takes an inanimate everyday object like glasses, towels, or food.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both everyday conversation and semi-formal writing such as event instructions. It is equally common in British and American English.
cause trouble or extra work for someone
Sense 4: What does "put sb out" mean?
Examples
- I don't want to put you out — please don't change your plans on my account.
- Would it put you out if I arrived a day early?
- She insisted on cooking dinner, even though I told her not to put herself out.
How to use it
The most common pattern — used to politely signal that you don't wish to cause inconvenience to someone. The pronoun always goes between 'put' and 'out'.
I don't want to put you out — please don't rearrange your whole evening for me.
The standard transitive pattern with a short noun phrase as the object, placed between 'put' and 'out'.
I felt terrible asking at the last minute — I could tell I was putting the whole team out.
A polite conditional question used to check whether a request would cause inconvenience before making it.
Would it put you out if I brought a friend along to dinner?
A fixed apologetic expression used when acknowledging that you have already caused some inconvenience to someone.
Sorry to put you out like this — I really appreciate you helping me at such short notice.
Used to express reluctance about causing trouble for someone, often before making a request anyway.
I hate to put anyone out, but would someone be able to give me a lift to the station?
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
With pronoun objects, the pronoun must go between 'put' and 'out', not after 'out'. Placing it after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.
When 'put out' is used as an adjective after verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'seem', it means feeling annoyed or offended — a completely different meaning. This sense is always active: someone puts a person out by causing them inconvenience.
In this sense, the object must always be a person or a pronoun referring to a person. If the object is a thing — like fire, information, or an object — you are using a different sense of 'put out'.
Usage
This phrasal verb is especially common in British English and is often used in polite, self-deprecating speech to avoid imposing on others. It nearly always appears with a pronoun object (put you out, put them out) placed between 'put' and 'out'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'put out' always mean the same thing? I've seen it used in very different ways.
No — 'put out' has several distinct meanings in English. This sense means to make information or content available to the public. Other uses include extinguishing something (a fire or a light) or causing inconvenience to someone. Context — and especially the object used — makes it clear which meaning is intended.
What kinds of things can you 'put out'? Can it be used for any type of content?
It's most naturally used with information and official communications (a warning, a statement, an appeal, a press release) or with media and creative products (an album, a report, a bulletin). It doesn't work for purely personal or private communication — you wouldn't 'put out' a text message to a friend, for example.
Can 'put out' be used in the passive, and is it common?
Yes, the passive is very natural with this sense and appears frequently in journalism and official reporting. It's especially useful when the source of the announcement is less important than the announcement itself, for example: 'A new safety alert has been put out ahead of the weekend.'
Is 'put out' informal? Can I use it in professional or news writing?
It's broadly neutral and perfectly acceptable in news reports, official communications, and professional contexts. It's slightly less formal than 'issue' or 'release', so in highly formal documents you might prefer those alternatives, but 'put out' is standard in journalism and everyday professional use.
Can I say 'they have been putting out information for weeks'? Does the present perfect continuous work here?
It's possible but sounds slightly awkward for this sense. The simple present perfect — 'they have put out a lot of information' — is more natural when you want to emphasise the result. The present perfect continuous is more commonly used with actions or processes that are ongoing, so it fits better with senses that describe a repeated physical action.
Can I use 'put out' to talk about a candle and a bonfire? They seem very different.
Yes, 'put out' works for any source of fire or flame, from a small match to a large bonfire or wildfire. The size doesn't matter — as long as something is actually burning, 'put out' is the right choice.
What's the difference between 'put out' and 'blow out' a candle?
'Blow out' specifically means extinguishing a flame by blowing air on it, for example with your breath. 'Put out' is more general and can describe any method — using water, a fire extinguisher, sand, or simply smothering the flame. Both are correct for candles, but only 'put out' works for larger fires.
Is it natural to say 'the fire is being put out right now'?
It is grammatically possible, but the present continuous sounds a little unnatural in most everyday situations. It works best when describing firefighters actively working on a fire at that exact moment. In general, it is more natural to use the simple past, present perfect, or future simple with this phrasal verb.
Can 'put out' be used in formal writing, like a news report?
Yes, it is perfectly natural in both formal and informal contexts. News reports and official accounts frequently use the passive form — for example, 'the fire was put out by local firefighters' — and this sounds completely professional and appropriate.
Does 'put out' always mean stopping a fire or light?
No — 'put out' has other meanings in English. It can mean to inconvenience someone (e.g. 'I hope this doesn't put you out') or to publish something (e.g. 'the company put out a statement'). The fire and light meaning is usually clear from context because the object will always be something burning, like a flame, candle, or fire.
What kinds of things can you 'put out'?
In this sense, you typically put out everyday items that you want others to be able to use — things like glasses, plates, towels, snacks, drinks, chairs, or leaflets. The object is always something physical and inanimate. If the object is a person, or something like a fire or candle, the phrase has a completely different meaning.
Does 'put out' mean you have to arrange things neatly?
No — 'put out' simply means making items available for people to use or see. It does not suggest any special arrangement or display. If you want to emphasise that something has been carefully organised, 'set out' or 'lay out' would be a better choice.
Can I use 'put out' in written instructions, or is it too informal?
It is perfectly fine in written instructions and semi-formal contexts, such as event guides, hospitality checklists, or recipe steps. It is neutral in tone and works in both spoken conversation and written English.
Is 'put out' the same in British and American English?
Yes — this sense of 'put out' is equally common in both British and American English. You will hear and read it in both varieties without any difference in meaning.
Can I say 'I am putting out the glasses right now'?
It is possible, but the present continuous sounds slightly unnatural for this phrasal verb unless you are describing a very specific action happening at that exact moment. It is more common to use the simple past, present perfect, or infinitive forms — for example, 'I put out the glasses earlier' or 'I've already put them out'.
Is 'put out' in this meaning more British than American?
Yes, this use of 'put out' to mean causing inconvenience to someone is particularly common in British and Australian English. American English speakers do use it, but it is less frequent there. If you are learning British English or spending time in the UK, this is a very useful phrase to know.
Can 'put out' be used in the passive in this sense?
It's best to avoid the passive here. A sentence like 'I was put out by him' tends to be read as the separate adjectival sense meaning 'I felt annoyed or offended', not 'he inconvenienced me'. Stick to the active form to keep the meaning clear.
Does 'put out' in this sense always have a negative feeling — like it's always bad to put someone out?
Not always bad, but always something to be aware of socially. The phrase is typically used by the person causing the inconvenience, not the person experiencing it, and it carries a polite, considerate tone. The underlying idea is that you value the other person's time and comfort, which is why it so often appears in apologies and careful requests.
What kinds of situations is this phrasal verb used in?
It works best in everyday social situations where you might be making an extra demand on someone — asking for a favour, arriving unexpectedly, requesting a lift, or staying at someone's home longer than planned. It is especially natural in spoken conversation and informal messages, though it can also appear in a polite email.
Can I use 'put out' with a reflexive pronoun, like 'put yourself out'?
Yes — 'put yourself out' is a natural and common construction. It means to go to extra trouble or effort, often used when telling someone not to make a fuss on your behalf. For example: 'Please don't put yourself out — I can easily find somewhere to eat nearby.'
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