English Reference

Phrasal verb

put sth together

Definition

phrasal verb. to make something by joining different parts or ideas; you use this when you build furniture or organize a plan.

phrasal verb. to assemble a physical object from components or to organize a conceptual entity, such as a presentation or team, by combining various elements.

Examples

“It took me two hours to put the desk together.”

“The manager is trying to put together a new team for the upcoming marketing project.”

“After months of research, the scientists finally put together a comprehensive report that detailed the environmental impact of the new factory.”

Examples

simple

“It took me two hours to put the desk together.”

contextual

“The manager is trying to put together a new team for the upcoming marketing project.”

complex

“After months of research, the scientists finally put together a comprehensive report that detailed the environmental impact of the new factory.”

Usage

often used for physical assembly (furniture, toys) or abstract organization (plans, groups, budgets).

Teaching tip

contrast with 'assemble' (more formal) and 'build' (more general); highlight that 'put together' is the standard term for flat-pack furniture like IKEA.

Pitfall

I put together it yesterday.

I put it together yesterday.

when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

Phrasal verb

Particles

together

Separability

optional

Pattern

put (+ object) + together (+ object)

Synonyms

Antonyms

take apartdismantledisassemble

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/put-sth-together

English Reference