setup

1 of 2

noun

set·​up ˈset-ˌəp 

1

a

: carriage of the body

especially : erect and soldierly bearing

b

: constitution, makeup

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

: project, plan

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

b

: bring about

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

: found, inaugurate

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

b

: frame sense 3

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 man

—Thomas 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

Synonyms

Noun

• arrangement
• configuration
• conformation
• format
• formation
• layout
• setout

Verb

• depose
• deposit
• dispose
• emplace
• fix
• lay
• place
• position
• put
• set
• situate
• stick

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

This setup produces 905 hp and 727 ft lbs of torque. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2024

The ease of setup also translated into ease of use. —Simone Scully, Parents, 16 Apr. 2024

On the main stage Sunday night, J Balvin took pains to communicate his superstardom, changing between a half-dozen equally extravagant outfits and utilizing constantly shifting camera setups. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2024

The training setup looked like a dentist’s chair, with two joysticks and a virtual-reality headset. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

Blake, who also wrote the screenplay, drew inspiration from the classic setup of a character finding something they weren’t supposed to. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2024

Some of them make good—even very good—coffee, leaning on different features that mimic the classic pour-over setup. —Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 12 Apr. 2024

There's also a mesh screen included, as well as natural lava rocks, and the bronze finish meshes beautifully with almost any outdoor decor setup. —Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

Springsteen maintains a remarkably simple setup and show presentation compared to the other blockbuster live shows currently on the road. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024

Verb

The fund is set up to be administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission under the Department of Economic and Community Development. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024

Beck pointed to the city’s effort to make changes to ordinances, and the extra staff hours spent to set up a special taxing district that will fund further improvements. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024

Fremantle has renewed its first-look deal with Fabula, the production company set up by Pablo Larraín and his producer brother Juan de Dios Larraín. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024

As many as 90 soldiers from the Royal Guard also helped police setting up barriers and safeguard valuables. —Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024

Families of Butler and Kelley have set up GoFundMe fundraisers for the victims. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024

Last week, Thell Reed, attempted to set up a GoFundMe account to raise money to cover his stepdaughter’s legal bills during an appeal, but the site took down the family’s post due to its policy that prohibits fundraisers for legal defense of criminal charges for violent crimes. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

The California Natural Resources Agency set up a booth at 49ers games to help increase sign-ups. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024

The four-story building was set up to hold 300 diners, with an additional 200 in the basement club. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

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

Kids Definition

setup

1 of 2 noun

set·​up ˈset-ˌəp 

: 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