1
as in throwing (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggerating
to describe or express in too strong terms
some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
put on a show of anger just for fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of putting on
The local group is putting on an auction in the Arboretum’s Palm Room.
—
Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In this spooky play, five high school theater students are putting on an educational show about the dangers of drinking and driving by re-creating a deadly car crash.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters' birthday is Saturday, and in his memory his eldest son is putting on a concert in Chicago.
—Zak Spector, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Real America’s Music is putting on a show.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
On his proper introduction, Nett seems keen to fashion himself in the mold of new-wave rage stars like Che and Osamason, burning his low-end to a crisp and putting on his best Keef squeak.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Which was why, at the very end, when Gordon tuned in on the wireless to a dance band and Robert was supposed to waltz Olwyn about the room, Stella had no patience with St Ives’s reaction to Geoffrey’s ten-second delay in putting on the gramophone record.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Slipping into this two-piece set is basically the equivalent of putting on your favorite pair of silky, soft pajamas.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In this spooky play, five high school theater students are putting on an educational show about the dangers of drinking and driving by re-creating a deadly car crash.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters' birthday is Saturday, and in his memory his eldest son is putting on a concert in Chicago.
—Zak Spector, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Real America’s Music is putting on a show.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
On his proper introduction, Nett seems keen to fashion himself in the mold of new-wave rage stars like Che and Osamason, burning his low-end to a crisp and putting on his best Keef squeak.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Which was why, at the very end, when Gordon tuned in on the wireless to a dance band and Robert was supposed to waltz Olwyn about the room, Stella had no patience with St Ives’s reaction to Geoffrey’s ten-second delay in putting on the gramophone record.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Slipping into this two-piece set is basically the equivalent of putting on your favorite pair of silky, soft pajamas.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putting on
Verb
-
But in early 2024, a short seller accused it of exaggerating the role of artificial intelligence in its business model, leading to a class action lawsuit and a 30% drop in its share price.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At this point, the NFL is not even pretending the draft is about the handful of prospects sitting in the green room.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thousands of motorcyclists donning their most dapper attire will take to the streets around the world Sunday, May 17, to benefit men’s health issues — including here in Naperville.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Somehow, McCarthy’s assurance makes these clichés seem new again, donning them as naturally as O’Connell’s gawky bellboy wearing an old-fashioned red cap.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The video shared by NASA also stitches together the imagery, guiding viewers across both scenes and simulating what Mars' ancient past may have looked like.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
There is also a sinking slope decking display simulating the 15-degree angle that the ship sank, at 15-minute intervals, for visitors to climb upon.—
Gregory Harutunian,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With a razor-thin majority, the Speaker can afford to lose only two GOP votes on any party-line bill, assuming that all members are present and Democrats are united in opposition.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Providers also can fall victim to inadvertent bias, assuming a young, otherwise healthy patient must be dealing with something other than shingles.—
Alyssa Sparacino,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Putting on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putting%20on. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
