Cool MatePut word out vs Share
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Put word out
Top 3,000 (common)
Share
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Share
| Put word out | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //pʊt wɜːd aʊt//🇺🇸 //pʊt wɝːd aʊt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃeə(r)/","/ʃeəz/","/ʃeəd/","/ˈʃeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃer/","/ʃerz/","/ʃerd/","/ˈʃerɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To announce or share information publicly. | To let someone use or have part of something that you have. |
| Example | They decided to put the word out about the charity event. | I will share my toys with my friends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | put the word out, put the word out quickly, put the word out widely, put the word out about something, put the word out to everyone | fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared |
| Antonyms | - | hoard, keep, withhold |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'put out' which means to extinguish., Using it in very formal contexts where a more specific term is needed., Mistaking it for 'get the word out' which carries a similar but slightly different meaning. | Using 'share' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will share' instead of 'I will share my lunch'), Confusing 'share' with 'sharpen', Incorrectly using 'share' as a noun rather than a verb (e.g., saying 'the share of the book' instead of 'the sharing of the book') |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts when sharing news or announcements; less common in formal writing. Avoid using with very sensitive or private information. | Use 'share' when talking about dividing resources or experiences. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very formal contexts where more specific terms may be required. |
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Frequently asked questions: Put word out vs Share
What's the difference between Put word out and Share?
Put word out: To announce or share information publicly. Share: To let someone use or have part of something that you have.
Which is more common: Put word out and Share?
Share is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Put word out: They decided to put the word out about the charity event. Share: I will share my toys with my friends.
Can I use Put word out and Share interchangeably?
Not always. Put word out and Share are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.