setup

1 of 2

noun

set·​up ˈset-ˌəp How to pronounce setup (audio)
1
a
: carriage of the body
especially : erect and soldierly bearing
2
a
: the assembly and arrangement of the tools and apparatus required for the performance of an operation
b
: the preparation and adjustment of machines for an assigned task
3
a
: a table setting
b
: glass, ice, and mixer served to patrons who supply their own liquor
4
a
: a camera position from which a scene is filmed
also : the footage taken from one camera position
b
: the final arrangement of the scenery and properties for a scene of a theatrical or cinematic production
5
a
: a position of the balls in billiards or pool from which it is easy to score
b
: a task or contest purposely made easy
c
: something easy to get or accomplish
d
: something (such as a plot) that has been constructed or contrived
e
: the execution of a planned scoring play in sports
6
a
: the manner in which the elements or components of a machine, apparatus, or system are arranged, designed, or assembled
b
: the patterns within which political, social, or administrative forces operate : customary or established practice
7
8
: something done by deceit or trickery in order to compromise or frame someone

set up

2 of 2

verb

set up; setting up; sets up

transitive verb

1
a
: to raise to and place in a high position
b
: to place in view : post
c
: to put forward (something, such as a plan) for acceptance
2
a
: to place upright : erect
set up a statue
b
: to assemble the parts of and erect in position
c
: to put (a machine) in readiness or adjustment for an operation
3
a
: cause, create
set up a clamor
4
: to place in power or in office
set up the general as dictator
5
a
: to raise from depression : elate, gratify
b
: to make proud or vain
6
a
: to put forward or extol as a model
b
: to claim oneself to be
sets himself up as an authority
7
8
a
: to provide with means of making a living
set him up in business
b
: to bring or restore to normal health
c
: to cause (one) to take on a soldierly or athletic appearance especially through drill
9
: to erect (a perpendicular or a figure) on a base in a drawing
10
a
: to make taut (a stay or hawser)
b
: to tighten firmly
11
: to make carefully worked out plans for
set up a bank robbery
12
a
: to pay for (drinks)
b
: to treat (someone) to something
13
a
: to put in a compromising or dangerous position usually by trickery or deceit
14
: to execute one or more plays in preparation for scoring

intransitive verb

1
: to come into active operation or use
2
: to begin business
3
: to make pretensions
has never set up to be a wise manThomas Rogers
4
: to become firm
Phrases
set up housekeeping
: to establish one's living quarters
set up shop
: to start a business or activity in a particular place

Examples of setup in a Sentence

Noun Setup of the new software is a breeze. It took me a while to learn the setup of the office's filing system. We had a great setup. On my days off, my wife would work from home while I took care of the kids. The software makes it easy to create custom setups. Verb set up tables in the living room for the party set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Featuring a standard setup of 5 reels and 20 paylines, this slot offers payouts reaching up to 1,000x your line bet, with a medium variance setting. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 That’s thanks in part to Porsche’s new Active Ride suspension, an advanced air setup that can dynamically adjust ride height and compression in a fraction of a second. Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The setup was that Loughlin, who loves to play golf, was being black-balled from L.A. country clubs due to her role in the 2019 scandal. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Weather balloon data from Dulles International Airport on Sunday morning presented a textbook setup for these clouds. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Now, the crisis is harder to ignore because it is concentrated at the City Hall encampment, which has become a flashpoint as the city pours money and resources into making the setup more livable. Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Clark joined the club’s youth setup from Newcastle in 2021, amid plenty of attention from other clubs, and is perhaps the standout from the new crop of players emerging from the academy. Ben Church, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 The last of those options, which is found in the i7, is a dual-motor setup that produces a monstrous 650 horses and 749 ft lbs of twist. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 Now, the crisis is harder to ignore because it is concentrated at the City Hall encampment, which has become a point of focus as the city pours money and resources into making the setup more livable. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Sievers said the founders of Renew Energy were visionary in setting up a plant for fractioning, but were ahead of their time. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The film is being released next month by Universal Pictures, having initially been set up at Netflix. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 It’s widely expected that following these contests today Trump will attain the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination and Biden will attain the 1,968 delegates required to clinch the Democratic nomination, officially setting up a rematch in November between the two rivals. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Last month, Mexican officials set up two migration stations to block gaps in the U.S.-Mexico fence at the Jacumba Hot Springs-Ejido Jacumé border, as the number of crossings increased there. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 In This Article Your Questions, Answered The quickest and most efficient way to water the lawn—and to remember to do it regularly—is to set up your yard with one of the best lawn sprinklers. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 Should a pharmaceutical company set up advanced R & D centers in mainland China or purchase a Chinese biotech firm, given the long-run trajectory of relations between Beijing and the West? Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 The impending arrival of Vultures 2 sets up another busy month for Ye and Ty Dolla $ign. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 9 Mar. 2024 The Volunteer Fire Department in Stinnett has asked for the same, while a livestock supply point was due to be set up in Pampa with a request for wire, cedar posts, hay, feed and portable diesel. Nigel Chiwaya, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of setup was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near setup

Cite this Entry

“Setup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setup. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

setup

1 of 2 noun
set·​up ˈset-ˌəp How to pronounce setup (audio)
: the way in which something is set up : organization, arrangement

set up

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)set-ˈəp
1
: to place in position
set up a target
2
a
: erect entry 2 sense 1
set up a building
b
: to assemble the parts of
set up a machine
3
: to cause to happen
the wind sets up a humming in the wires
4
: to put in operation : found, inaugurate
set up a school
5
: to put in operation as a way of living
set up housekeeping

More from Merriam-Webster on setup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!