AAAmerican Accent US

put out

Separable

The object can go before or after the particle — but a pronoun MUST go in the middle: “clean it up”, never “clean up it”.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: put OUT. Saying “PUT out” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

The /t/ flaps. Between vowels, American /t/ and /d/ both become a quick tap, so “put out” comes out as “pu-dout” — closer to a fast D than a T. Drop a pronoun in the middle and it flaps twice: “put it out” → “pu-di-dout”.

3 meanings

  1. 1

    To extinguish a fire, a flame or a cigarette.

    • “It took four crews to put out the fire.”
    • “Put your cigarette out before you come in.”

    Similar: extinguish, smother

  2. 2

    To inconvenience someone.

    • “I hope this doesn't put you out.”
    • “She looked distinctly put out.”

    Similar: trouble, inconvenience

  3. 3

    To publish or release something.

    • “The agency put out a statement that afternoon.”

    Similar: issue, release

The particle logic

out

Something exits a container, becomes visible, or is exhausted.

Listen + practice

Hear “put out” spoken naturally

Pick a sentence to record

Read the sentence aloud. Keep the stress on the particle and run the two words together — we’ll score every sound and flag what to work on.

Click to record

More PUT phrasal verbs

Compare the whole family →

put off

To postpone something until later.

put up with

To tolerate something unpleasant without complaining.

put on

To dress yourself in something.

put away

To return something to its proper storage place.

put down

To place something on a surface.

put back

To return something to its original place.

put in

To install something.

put together

To assemble something from parts.

put up

To erect or display something.

put through

To connect someone by telephone.

put aside

To save something, especially money, for later.

put out — meaning, examples & how to say it