put out

[ poot out ]

verb phrase

1. to extinguish, as a fire:

   Don't forget to put the candle out before you go to bed.

2. to confuse; embarrass:

   It put her out badly when she went to pay and realized her wallet was still at home.

3. to vex or annoy:

   He was put out when I missed our appointment.

4. to subject to inconvenience:

   I don't want to put you out, so I'll wait until after dinner to stop by.

5. Baseball, Softball, Cricket. to cause to be removed from an opportunity to reach base or score; retire:

   Ramirez was put out at third for the second out of the inning.

6. to publish:

   She puts out a new mystery every other year.

7. to go out to sea:

   The fishermen put out well before sunrise.

8. to manufacture; prepare; produce:

   The factory puts out thousands of candy bars an hour.

9. to exert; apply:

   They were putting out their best efforts.

10. Slang: Offensive. (usually of a woman) to demonstrate willingness or offer to engage in sexual intercourse.

put out

verb

1. often passive
   1. to annoy; anger
   2. to confound or disturb; confuse
2. to extinguish or douse (a fire, light, etc)

   he put out the fire

3. to poke forward

   to put out one's tongue

4. to be or present a source of inconvenience or annoyance to (a person)

   I hope I'm not putting you out

5. to issue or publish; broadcast

   the authorities put out a leaflet

6. to render unconscious
7. to dislocate

   he put out his shoulder in the accident

8. to show or exert

   the workers put out all their energy in the campaign

9. to pass, give out (work to be done) at different premises
10. to lend (money) at interest
11. cricket to dismiss (a player or team)
12. baseball to cause (a batter or runner) to be out by a fielding play

noun

1. baseball a play in which the batter or runner is put out

Word History and Origins

Origin of put out¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1730–40 put out fordef 5; 1925–30 put out fordef 10

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put oneself out, to take pains; go to trouble or expense:

   She has certainly put herself out to see that everyone is comfortable.

2. put someone out of their misery,
   1. to euthanize:

      We had to put the dog out of his misery, and everyone is still upset.

   2. to end a period of waiting, suspense, or the like:

      After she agonized for days about whether she'd be laid off, upper management finally put her out of her misery and sent her home.

Example Sentences

When Trump put out an early loyalty test for the three candidates—insisting that they allow recess appointments for Trump nominees, allowing them to withstand Senate scrutiny—Scott, after all, was the only candidate who concurred in full, while the others left it open as a possibility.

From Slate

Thune, while patient, seemed agonized during the first Trump administration whenever he was asked about whatever stupid tweet Trump had put out at 7 in the morning.

From Slate

News outlets have since put out reports on the attack, mostly angling on statements from the police and Xi Jinping.

From BBC

A 2015 report by the Rand Corporation, put out four years after Barack Obama signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act, found that about 6 percent, or 120,000 service members, identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

From Salon

Everything that they’ve put out, I’ve downloaded.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• douse
• snuff out