putt

American  

[puht] / pʌt /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to strike (a gollf ball) gently so as to make it roll along the green into the hole.

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noun

1. an act of putting.

2. a stroke made in putting.

putt British  

/ pʌt /

noun

1. a stroke on the green with a putter to roll the ball into or near the hole

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verb

1. to strike (the ball) in this way

Etymology

Origin of putt

First recorded in 1735–45; originally Scots, variant of put

Explanation

To putt is to hit a golf ball softly with a club, usually when you're close to the hole. Golfers use a special club called a putter when they're ready to putt. The distance between your golf ball and the hole determines how you putt, but the stroke is generally gentle, intended to get the ball on the green or all the way into the hole. Unlike other golf strokes that send the ball arcing through the air, a putt is always meant to simply roll it. Putt is a Scottish word that originally meant "to shove" or "to push," and came to include the golf meaning in 1743.

Example Sentences

"It is thrilling to see British indie films and debuts in the company of blockbusters that have taken the world by storm," said Bafta chair Sara Putt.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

Putt also acknowledged the broad array of films nominated.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2025

"We thought very carefully about whether we could try to apply this criteria retrospectively now, or introduce a moratorium," Putt wrote.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2024

Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA, then gave a short off-air speech, noting that the organization’s aim is to “champion talent, exceptional storytelling and make the screen industries a more equitable and sustainable place.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2024

Putt it was all nonsense, I teclare to cootness.

From Thereby Hangs a Tale Volume One by Fenn, George Manville