setup

noun set·up \ ˈset-ˌəp \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of setup

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

See setup defined for English-language learners

See setup defined for kids

Examples of setup in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of setup from the Web

With equipment of his own, Supa could assemble his own recording setup in the Music Garage, a complex of rehearsal spaces, studios, and shops in Fulton Market.

— leor galil, Chicago Reader, "Chicago rapper Supa Bwe laps the pack," 3 Apr. 2018
Users who opt not to input credit-card information for Apple Pay when setting up their phones now constantly see the red circle over their settings icon, indicating their setup is incomplete.

— tripp mickle, WSJ, "iPhone Users Are Pestered to Enroll in Apple Pay," 3 Apr. 2018
In the current setup, the pulses from the ranging laser are separated by about 1.5mm.

— chris lee, Ars Technica, "Lidar system images bullet in flight," 30 Mar. 2018
In addition to the 355-hp plug-in hybrid setup shown in the Atlas Cross Sport concept, Volkswagen says a more traditional plugless hybrid powertrain is a possible option.

— greg fink, Car and Driver, "Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Concept: Five for Fighting," 29 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, physical hard drives haven't become more reliable and are known to eventually crash, so many consumers turn to cloud software to both move files to friends and clients and to back up in a more secure setup.

— jefferson graham, USA TODAY, "Dropbox IPO: How cloud storage compares," 22 Mar. 2018
The Skills Challenge tests dribbling, passing, agility and three-point-shooting skills in an obstacle course-style setup.

— vince ellis, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Pistons' Blake Griffin won't be 'buddy-buddy' vs. L.A. Clippers," 8 Feb. 2018
Step 1: Get Mentally Prepared to Clean Related Visualize your ideal setup.

— NBC News, "How to spring clean like a pro," 10 Aug. 2017
With Koehler on the shelf, the Dodgers will once more utilize the duo of Josh Fields and Pedro Baez as Jansen’s primary right-handed setup men.

— andy mccullough, latimes.com, "Here are the five questions the Dodgers must answer to end their World Series drought," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'setup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

setup vs. set-up vs. set up

The noun setup is usually styled as a solid compound (that is, as a single word) in American English and as a hyphenated compound (set-up) in British English. The noun may be used attributively (that is, as an adjective) in such phrases as setup man (“someone who makes machine tool adjustments”) and setup tool (“software that facilitates the installation of a computer program”). The verb set up, on the other hand, is usually found as an open compound (two words, no hyphen) in both American and British English.

First Known Use of setup

1890

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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setup Synonyms

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

set up

verb

Definition of set 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 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

— set up housekeeping

: to establish one's living quarters

— set up shop

: to establish one's business

See set up defined for kids

Examples of set up in a Sentence

set up tables in the living room for the party
set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city

Recent Examples of set up from the Web

Police set up a task force, Project Houston, in 2012 after Skandaraj Navaratnam, Majeed Kayhan and Faizi, an Afghan who immigrated to Canada from Iran, went missing.

— Washington Post, "Canadian alleged serial killer facing 7th murder charge," 11 Apr. 2018
The page, which appeared to have been set up in 2016, was administered by Ian Mackay, a National Union of Workers official in Australia, and had no relationship with the BLM movement, reported CNN.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "It was the biggest Black Lives Matter page on Facebook. And it was fake, inquiry finds | The Sacramento Bee," 10 Apr. 2018
Pranksters in New York City created an elaborate set up in a coffee shop to make innocent patrons think Carrie and her telekinetic powers were real in this crazy YouTube video.

— kristi kellogg, Teen Vogue, "55 Best YouTube Videos That Went Viral: Our All Time Favorites," 10 Apr. 2018
The service was held on the Aviara Oaks campus, where family, former classmates, students and parents overflowed the 600 seats set up in the gym.

— laura groch, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scholarship fundraiser to honor late CUSD teacher," 9 Apr. 2018
But the same could be said of Scott, whose entry into the race sets up an epic clash in one of the country’s most important mid-term battle grounds.

— david smiley and alex daugherty, miamiherald, "Bill Nelson has never been tested like this. But neither has Rick Scott. | Miami Herald," 9 Apr. 2018
Thanks to the Bucks making the playoffs, the final weeks of the Bradley Center are setting up in a sweet fashion, Costello said.

— james b. nelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "BMO Harris Bradley Center farewell: Bucks playoffs, Bon Jovi, and gratitude to Jane Pettit," 9 Apr. 2018
Against the Hurricanes, a strong forecheck from Sceviour set up Alexander Petrovic’s goal in the third period.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "The Next Day Look: Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 3," 8 Apr. 2018
The culture authority, which was set up in October, aims to ratchet up production by offering cash, training and logistic support to emerging filmmakers.

— alexandra zavis, latimes.com, "Saudi Arabia is opening movie theaters. Now the kingdom wants to make movies too," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'set up.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of set up

13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

set up Synonyms

Synonyms

assemble, build, confect, construct, erect, fabricate, make, make up, piece, put up, raise, rear;

Antonyms

demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down;

Near Antonyms

demolish, destroy, devastate, flatten, level, pull down, pulverize, raze, ruin, ruinate, shatter, smash, wreck;

blow up, explode;

detach, disengage;

disconnect, disjoin, disunite, divide, separate;

prefabricate;

begin, coin, create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate;

constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize;

conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up);

reassemble, rebuild, reconstruct, redevelop, retrofit;

jerry-build, rig (up), throw up;

combine, unite;

Phrases

put together;

SETUP Defined for English Language Learners

setup

noun

Definition of setup for English Language Learners

: the process of making something (such as a machine or computer program) ready to be used
: the way that something is done or organized
: a situation in which someone is deliberately put in a bad position or made to look guilty