put weight on

USAGE SUMMARY

"put weight on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are talking about adding weight or emphasising something. For example: "We need to put weight on the importance of adhering to the new safety regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's one of the reasons why she never put weight on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To put weight on?

The Guardian

He could put weight on his leg.

The New York Times - Magazine

He couldn't put weight on it.

The New Yorker

O'Sullivan was reluctant to put weight on his ankle.

The New Yorker

I couldn't put weight on it at all.

The Guardian - Sport

"The foot would drop to its natural position", and could put weight on the accelerator.

The Guardian

He slowly stood up and put weight on his right foot.

The New Yorker

Williams felt pain whenever she put weight on her right leg.

The New York Times - Sports

"It really hurts whenever I put weight on it and try and walk," Richards said.

The New York Times

He was helped off, unable to put weight on the leg.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing medical or dietary advice, specify the type of weight gain: muscle mass versus fat. For example, instead of simply saying "put weight on", clarify with "put on muscle mass" or "put on body fat" to provide more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "put weight on" when a more specific term is appropriate. For instance, don't use it to describe applying literal weight to an object; instead, use "place weight on" or "apply pressure to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put weight on" primarily functions as a phrasal verb. It can describe the act of gaining physical weight or, metaphorically, emphasizing the importance of something. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "put weight on" is a versatile phrasal verb with two primary meanings: to gain physical weight and to emphasize the importance of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts. It is particularly common in news media and scientific writing, though it maintains a generally neutral tone. While generally correct, remember to consider the specific context to ensure it accurately conveys your intended meaning and to select alternatives like "gain weight" for physical weight gain or "emphasize the importance of" for emphasizing significance, depending on your purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain weight

Focuses specifically on the aspect of increasing body mass.

increase in weight

A more formal way of expressing the same concept of gaining body mass.

become heavier

Describes the state of increasing in weight, rather than the action of 'putting on'.

gain mass

A more technical term for increasing in size or bulk.

add importance to

Shifts the meaning to emphasizing significance rather than physical weight.

emphasize the importance of

Similar to 'add importance to' but more explicitly highlights the act of emphasizing.

stress the significance of

Uses 'stress' as a synonym for 'emphasize', conveying a similar meaning.

apply pressure

Changes the context to applying physical or metaphorical pressure.

exert force on

A more formal way to describe applying pressure or force.

press down on

Focuses on the physical action of pressing downwards.

FAQs

How can I use "put weight on" in a sentence?

You can use "put weight on" to describe gaining weight, such as "He needs to "put weight on" after the illness", or to emphasize something, like "We should "put weight on" this argument".

What does it mean to "put weight on" something?

To ""put weight on"" something can mean to gain weight or to emphasize the importance of something.

Which is correct, "put weight on" or "gain weight"?

"Put weight on" and "gain weight" are both correct and often interchangeable, but ""put weight on"" can also refer to emphasizing something, which "gain weight" cannot.

Are there any formal alternatives to "put weight on"?

For gaining weight, a more formal alternative is "increase in weight". When emphasizing something, you could use "emphasize the importance of" or "stress the significance of".