putter

1 of 3

noun (1)

put·​ter ˈpu̇-tər How to pronounce putter (audio)
: one that puts
a putter of questions

putter

2 of 3

noun (2)

putt·​er ˈpə-tər How to pronounce putter (audio)
1
: a golf club used in putting
2
: one who putts

putter

3 of 3

verb

put·​ter ˈpə-tər How to pronounce putter (audio)
puttered; puttering; putters

intransitive verb

1
: to move or act aimlessly or idly
2
: to work at random : tinker
putterer noun

Examples of putter in a Sentence

Verb the motorboat puttered across the lake
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Get a table overlooking the water, watch the barges putter past and daydream about continuing on a voyage upriver to the heart of South America. Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Now she’s had some time to get a new putter in the bag and it’s slowly started to come around. Doug Ferguson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024 Owner Steve Fox clearly spared no expense in letting his design team find some new ways to get a dimpled ball from putter to hole. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 For more information on the all-new Never Compromise Reserve putters, visit us.dunlopsports.com/never-compromise. Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024 As for the whereabouts of her original putter, Zhang has no idea. Doug Ferguson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024 Based on length of the putter, interchangeable sole weights are available to ensure a consistent feel for each putter. Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024 Shorter length putters are built with heavier weights, while longer putters are assembled with lighter weights. Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024 Heirloom swizzles These quality pewter stirrers are made in the U.S., include two irons, two putters and two woods, and a touch of elegance and fun to any post-match drink. Amy Schlinger, wsj.com, 19 Dec. 2023
Verb
Ingenuity hovered above the rover acting as a scout, as Perseverance puttered along the sands of Mars. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024 Alas, the radio-less Cub puttered along the runway, seemingly oblivious to the Cessna fast approaching his rear. Sarah Schutte, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 The family's white SUV is seen puttering out at the intersection of Main and First streets. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 11 Oct. 2023 Though Diana is at the center, Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton), Prince Charles and Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce) are all puttering about in the background. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 Of that group, 246 had a harder average fastball than Teheran’s, which putters along at 89.6 miles per hour, according to Sports Info Solutions. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 27 June 2023 During the three-decade rule of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, the relationship puttered along more or less stably, despite widespread reports of corruption and election-rigging but often with Egypt stepping up to provide valuable security in conflicts in the region. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023 Aujla puttered in and out of the studio, smiling and not saying much. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 Some major drivers of higher prices, such as rents, energy, and used cars, have puttered out or started to reverse, causing sharp drops in overall inflation. Christopher Rugaber, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'putter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of potter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of putter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near putter

Cite this Entry

“Putter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/putter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

putter

1 of 3 noun
put·​ter ˈpu̇t-ər How to pronounce putter (audio)
: one that puts

putter

2 of 3 noun
putt·​er ˈpət-ər How to pronounce putter (audio)
1
: a golf club used in putting
2
: a person who putts

putter

3 of 3 verb
put·​ter ˈpət-ər How to pronounce putter (audio)
1
: to move or act without obvious purpose
2
: to work by chance or without skill
putterer noun
Etymology

Noun

from put and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

from putt and -er (noun suffix)

Verb

an altered form of earlier potter "to move about idly without aim or purpose"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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