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put up — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb2 meanings
  1. 1 let someone stay in your hometo allow someone to stay at your home for a short period, usually as a guest.
  2. 2 raise or fix something in a placeto attach or place something so that it stands upright or is displayed, like a picture, a tent, or a sign.
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All meanings, in depth

Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

1

let someone stay in your home

B1put sb upspokenMost common

to allow someone to stay at your home for a short period, usually as a guest.

When my cousin visited the city, I put her up for the weekend.

A: My flight got cancelled. Do you know any cheap hotels nearby?
B: Don't worry, I can put you up at my place tonight.

If a friend from another country visited my city, I would be happy to put them up for a few days and show them around.

Common mistake

✗They put up me for a few days.

✓They put me up for a few days.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'put me up'.

Tell it apart

They put me up for the weekend.

let me stay at their place

They put up with me all weekend.

tolerated me
This is often used when someone needs a place to sleep for a night or two.'Put up' (let someone stay) is different from 'put up with' (tolerate someone or something).

Often paired with

put + someone + up
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2

raise or fix something in a place

B1put sth upspoken

to attach or place something so that it stands upright or is displayed, like a picture, a tent, or a sign.

We put up a tent in the garden for the kids to play in.

A: The living room looks empty.
B: Let's put up some pictures on the wall.

During festivals, people often put up decorations to make their homes look more festive.

Common mistake

✗Let's put up it on the wall.

✓Let's put it up on the wall.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'put it up'.

Tell it apart

They put up a new fence.

erected it

They took down the old fence.

removed it
This is used for things like decorations, posters, tents, or shelves.'Put up' (raise/fix) is not the same as 'put away' (to store something).

Often paired with

put up + fixture
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let someone stay in your homeraise or fix something in a place