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 earphones can be individually configured using the beyerdynamic smartphone. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Defense lawyers could still file appeals depending on how the votes are configured, but once those challenges are exhausted, the ruling becomes final and any prison terms can be enforced. —Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

Mayor Daniel Biss won reelection earlier this year on a platform calling for more multifamily housing over a candidate who opposed major changes in how Evanston currently is configured. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025

The vacuum cleaner can also be easily configured into a handheld vacuum cleaner. —Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 28 Aug. 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