configure

verb

con·​fig·​ure kən-ˈfi-gyər 

especially British -ˈfi-gə

configured; configuring

transitive verb

: to set up for operation especially in a particular way

a fighter plane configured for the Malaysian air force

Examples of configure in a Sentence

The instructions tell you how to configure the kit correctly.

The plane is configured for military use.

Recent Examples on the Web

OpenClaw — which was acquired last month by OpenAI, the American company that created ChatGPT — is capable of taking over a user’s entire computer and can be remotely targeted if safeguards are not properly configured, which is challenging for someone who isn’t a technical user. —Erin Tan, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026

It can be configured to accommodate four to eight passengers, with seating across two or three rows. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026

Both can also be configured with 128GB of RAM. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026

The jets can also be configured to carry cargo and medical patients. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English configuren (as past participle configurid) "to model on, conform to," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French configurer "to compare, form," borrowed from Latin configūrāre "to mold, shape," from con- con- + figūrāre "to shape, form, make a likeness of" — more at figure entry 2

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing configure

• pre-configure

Rhymes for configure

• disfigure
• prefigure
• figure
• reconfigure

Kids Definition

configure

verb

con·​fig·​ure kən-ˈfig-yər 

configured; configuring

: to set up for operation especially in a particular way

ships configured for observation