put up with

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to tolerate or accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining. It is commonly used when you do not like something but decide to endure it because you have no other choice.

Examples

• I don't know how she puts up with his constant complaining.

  I don't know how she puts up with his constant complaining.

• We had to put up with a lot of noise during the renovation.

  We had to put up with a lot of noise during the renovation.

• I'm not going to put up with this kind of behavior anymore.

  I'm not going to put up with this kind of behavior anymore.

• They put up with the cold weather because they love the city.

  They put up with the cold weather because they love the city.

• She had to put up with a long commute before she bought a car.

  She had to put up with a long commute before she bought a car.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I can't put up this noise.

  ✓ I can't put up with this noise.

  'Put up with' is a three-word phrasal verb. You cannot drop the preposition 'with' when introducing the object.

• ✗ She puts up with to work late.

  ✓ She puts up with working late.

  The preposition 'with' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't ___ his messy habits anymore; we need to talk to him.

  💡 Tolerate or endure.

  Show answer

  put up with

• How do you ___ the traffic in this city every single day?

  💡 Accept an annoying situation.

  Show answer

  put up with