Definition

Verb (transitive): 1. To save or reserve for future use: To set something, especially money or resources, to be used at a later time. 2. To stop using or thinking about something temporarily: To disregard, ignore, or stop focusing on a feeling, thought, or activity for a period.

Usage and Examples

• Meaning 1 (To save/reserve):
  • She puts aside a small amount of money every month for her vacation.
  • We should put aside some extra water in case of an emergency.
• Meaning 2 (To stop considering temporarily):
  • Let's put aside our differences and work together on this project.
  • He decided to put aside his worries and enjoy the party.

Advanced Usage

• "To put aside time": To deliberately reserve a period for a specific purpose.
  • I need to put aside a few hours this weekend to study.

Variants and Related Words

• Put away (verb): Often used synonymously with "put aside" in the sense of saving or storing. It can also mean to consume food or drink, or to incarcerate someone.
  • She put away her savings for a new car. (save)
  • He can put away an entire pizza by himself. (consume)
• Set aside (verb): A very close synonym, often used in formal or legal contexts.
  • The court set aside the previous ruling.

Synonyms

• Save (for future use)
• Reserve (for future use)
• Set aside (to save or disregard)
• Disregard (to stop considering)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Put away: To place something in its proper storage place; to save money.
  • Please put away your toys when you're finished.
• Set aside: To reserve something or to officially annul something.
  • They set aside a room for meetings.

Related Idioms

• Put it on the back burner: To delay working on something, similar to putting a plan or project aside.
  • We've had to put the expansion plans on the back burner for now.

Verb

1. turn away from and put aside, perhaps temporarily
   • it's time for you to put away childish things
2. stop using
   • the children were told to put away their toys
   • the students put away their notebooks