phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
put up with
to tolerate annoyance
What it means
To tolerate or accept something annoying or unpleasant without complaining, often because you have no choice. It usually implies reluctant acceptance rather than genuine acceptance.
Words like “put up with” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- I don't know how she puts up with his constant complaining every day.
- We had to put up with terrible weather for the entire camping trip.
- He refuses to put up with rude behaviour from anyone, including his boss.
- Why do you put up with such a long commute every single day?
Where it comes from
Three-part inseparable phrasal verb dating back to the 1500s, originally meaning 'put up your sword' — that is, sheathe it and accept the situation peacefully.
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