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

There are ways that the Red Wings can configure a balanced attack, but that still leaves question marks throughout the top nine. —The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

Animals configure their faces and bodies in certain postures for practical reasons — for example, unsheathing their teeth before biting, widening their eyes for a panoramic view of danger, flattening their ears to protect them in a fight. —Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025

Football leagues will be configured for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 schools separately when the 2025 football season is over. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025

The tents, which can be configured into rooms, were donated by various individuals and organizations, including InPower Agency LLC and Pastor Dennis Harmon of Hope Lutheran Church. —Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 20 Sep. 2025

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