put away

Short definition: The phrase put away means to place something in its proper storage location after use, or to save money for future needs, depending on context.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrasal verb put away? This is a very common expression in English and it usually has a practical meaning. It often refers to placing something back in its proper place after using it, but it can also describe saving money or even sending someone to prison. Because it appears in both casual and serious contexts, the meaning depends heavily on the situation. Below are detailed meanings with realistic examples so you can clearly understand how put away works in everyday English.

put away v. /ˌpʊt əˈweɪ/

Forms: put away, puts away, put away, putting away
Related: store v., save v., imprison v., tidy v.
Syllable: put-a-way

  1. (Verb) To return something to its proper place after using it.

    To put away something most commonly means placing it back where it belongs after you are finished using it. It is often used in everyday routines such as cleaning up, organizing a room, or storing tools and supplies.

    Please put away your toys before dinner.
    She carefully put away the dishes after washing them.
    He put away his laptop once the meeting was over.

    Synonyms: store, tidy up, return to place, stow, pack away, organize, shelve, clear up, file away, lock away, place back, set aside properly
    Antonyms: leave out, scatter, clutter, mess up, spread around, misplace, abandon, drop anywhere, leave exposed, dump, keep out, forget to store

  2. (Verb) To save money for future use.

    Put away can also mean saving money gradually, often for a specific goal such as buying something important or preparing for emergencies. It suggests careful financial planning.

    She tries to put away a portion of her salary every month.
    He put away enough money to take a long vacation.
    It’s smart to put away savings for unexpected expenses.

    Synonyms: save, set aside money, reserve funds, store savings, accumulate, build savings, deposit regularly, stash away, invest for future, budget carefully, keep in reserve, hold back funds
    Antonyms: spend freely, waste money, squander, overspend, blow savings, use up funds, drain account, spend impulsively, consume savings, deplete funds, misuse money, exhaust budget

  3. (Verb) To send someone to prison or to confine them.

    In a more serious context, put away can mean imprisoning someone after a legal decision. It may also refer to confining someone for safety or control.

    The judge decided to put him away for several years.
    The criminal was finally put away after a long investigation.
    They argued that he needed to be put away to protect the public.

    Synonyms: imprison, jail, incarcerate, confine, lock up, detain, sentence, commit to prison, send to jail, put behind bars, restrain legally, hold in custody
    Antonyms: release, free, liberate, discharge, acquit, let go, pardon, set free, exonerate, grant freedom, drop charges, allow release

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Put away

After a large family meal, Sebastian and Elena are cleaning the dining room. This conversation highlights put away, which means to put something in the place where it is usually kept, or informally, to eat or drink a large amount of something.

Sebastian: We should put away the clean dishes now so the kitchen counter is clear before we start preparing the dessert for the guests.

Elena: I’ll put away the leftover food in the refrigerator; it’s important to store it properly so it stays fresh for our lunch tomorrow.

Sebastian: I read that children should be encouraged to put away their toys every evening to learn the importance of keeping their room tidy and organized.

Elena: I noticed that the athlete can put away a massive amount of pasta before a big race to ensure he has enough energy for the competition.

Sebastian: If you put away a little bit of money every month into a savings account, you’ll find that you have a significant amount after a few years.

Elena: I saw a worker put away the heavy tools in the locked shed at the end of the shift to prevent them from being damaged by the rain.

Sebastian: It’s a relief to put away your winter clothes and bring out your summer wardrobe once the weather starts to become warmer and steadier.

Elena: I agree; I’m going to put away my phone for the rest of the evening so I can focus on spending quality time with my family and friends.

Sebastian: I’m glad we managed to put away all the clutter; the house looks much more spacious and welcoming now that everything is in its place.

Elena: Me too; once we put away the final set of cushions, we can finally sit down and relax with a hot cup of tea after this long day.

Phrases Containing the Phrasal Verb Put Away

The phrases below show how the phrasal verb put away is used to talk about storing, saving, or placing something in its proper place.

Put away your clothes

To store garments properly.

Please put away your clothes neatly in the closet after doing the laundry.

Put away the dishes

To return clean dishes to storage.

After washing them, she carefully put away the dishes in the cupboard.

Put away money

To save funds.

It’s wise to put away money regularly for emergencies and future plans.

Put away toys

To store playthings.

The children were told to put away their toys before bedtime.

Put away groceries

To store food items.

After returning from the market, they quickly put away the groceries in the refrigerator.

Put away equipment

To store tools properly.

Workers must put away equipment safely after finishing their tasks.

Put away documents

To store papers securely.

He put away the documents in a locked drawer to protect confidential information.

Put away your phone

To stop using and store a device.

Please put away your phone during the meeting to avoid distractions.

Put away the books

To store reading materials.

After studying, she put away the books neatly on the shelf.

Put away savings

To set aside funds.

He tries to put away savings every month to build financial security.

Put away leftovers

To store remaining food.

Don’t forget to put away leftovers in airtight containers.

Put away tools

To return instruments to storage.

After repairing the bike, he carefully put away his tools.

Put away the laundry

To store clean clothes.

She put away the laundry while listening to her favorite podcast.

Put away valuables

To secure important items.

During travel, it’s important to put away valuables in a safe place.

Put away supplies

To store materials.

After the event, volunteers helped put away supplies quickly and efficiently.

Put away decorations

To store seasonal items.

After the celebration ended, they put away the decorations carefully for next year.

Put away the groceries properly

To store items correctly.

Make sure to put away the groceries properly to prevent spoilage.

Put away the evidence

To store proof securely.

The officer carefully put away the evidence in a sealed container.

Put away personal belongings

To store private items.

Employees are asked to put away personal belongings before entering the lab.

Put away clutter

To tidy up mess.

Taking a few minutes each day to put away clutter can keep your space organized.

Words Rhyme with put away

foot the way
soot the day
input the stay
output the gray
foot the play
soot the clay
input the say
output the pray
foot the tray
soot the sway
away
day
play
say
stay
way
gray
clay
pray
display
delay
betray
survey
holiday
yesterday
anyway
runaway
stowaway
throwaway
hideaway
POS: Verb Phrase