pʊt bæk
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- put
- Particle:
- back
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "put back" mean?
- To return something to its original place
- To reschedule to a later time
- To delay progress
Examples
- Please put the books back on the shelf when you're done.
- The meeting has been put back to next Tuesday.
- The bad weather put back construction by several weeks.
- Put back the milk in the fridge after you use it.
- The injury put him back in his training schedule.
How to use it
Similar to 'put off' when meaning to postpone, but 'put back' often implies rescheduling to a specific later time.
Word order
Separable: 'put something back' or 'put back something'
Similar expressions
return
replace
postpone
delay
reschedule
Opposites
take out
bring forward
advance
Related phrasal verbs
Use it in a practice answer
Try "put back" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.