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

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured for nine to 11 passengers. —Patrick Whittle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Jet has history of problems with ice The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured for nine to 11 passengers. —Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

The Orinoco should be developed, produced, and exported to American’s own Gulf Coast refineries, particularly those configured to handle heavy and extra-heavy petroleum. —Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026

The emergency egress system, a basket system designed to bring the astronauts away from SLS in case of urgent issues before launch, will be configured. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 23 Jan. 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