putt

American  

[puht] / pʌt /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to strike (a gollf ball) gently so as to make it roll along the green into the hole.

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noun

1. an act of putting.

2. a stroke made in putting.

putt British  

/ pʌt /

noun

1. a stroke on the green with a putter to roll the ball into or near the hole

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verb

1. to strike (the ball) in this way

Etymology

Origin of putt

First recorded in 1735–45; originally Scots, variant of put

Example Sentences

And when his final putt went in, he had secured a dominant victory at 21-under, five strokes ahead second-place finisher Nicolai Hojgaard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

He could also be cool under pressure, whether sinking a 10-foot putt on the 18th hole of a golf tournament or walking away from a multibillion-dollar deal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

"The nerves kicked in over the eight-inch putt on the last, the hole looked really small," said Young, who shot a four-under-par 68 to win his second PGA Tour title on 13 under.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

But he raced his birdie putt past and failed to knock in a seven-footer for par as he made a rare mistake.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Even Walter Cronkite’s voice had that quiet excitement of a sportscaster announcing a big-deal golf putt.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia