setup

noun set·up \ ˈset-ˌəp \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: setup in a Sentence

Editor's Note: setup vs. set-up vs. set up

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

David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen represented a world class Golden Generation steeped in talent that today's England setup can only dream of.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 3 Weeks to Go - Rooney, Ronaldo and the English Need for a Scapegoat in 2006," 1 June 2018
If approved, the changes would be the most substantial since the city's setup creating five directional neighborhoods - North, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast -- was approved in 1931.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Plan to shift thousands of addresses to 'South Portland' heads to City Council," 30 May 2018
One of their biggest challenges: The local market’s setup.

— jacky wong, WSJ, "Hong Kong’s Stock Market Is Running Short of Integrity," 30 May 2018
Her teammate Carpenter’s setup was much better, which contributed to his early lead.

— New York Times, "Will Power Finally Wins an Indy 500 as Danica Patrick Says Goodbye," 27 May 2018
The apps enable fans to play multiple games and spend money more easily than traditional fantasy sports setups. . . . . . .

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Louisiana voters will decide on legalizing fantasy sports betting apps in November," 26 May 2018
Every role has considerable potential, as does the show's superhero setup.

— daniel fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Cloak & Dagger': TV Review," 24 May 2018
My mom was a prop artist and did all these crazy Halloween setups.

— michael nagrant, RedEye Chicago, "What's driving the pop-up trend in Chicago?," 23 May 2018
Although the indie rockers kept their stage setup simple, their delivery was full of captivating passion, demonstrating their unique ability to transform a cover into what sounds like a startling original.

— abby jones, Billboard, "The Kills Passionately Recite Their 'List of Demands' On 'The Late Show': Watch," 23 May 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 start a business or activity in a particular place

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

Niger contributes to the multinational force set up to fight Boko Haram in the region.

— Washington Post, "3 suicide bombers kill at least 6 in Niger mosque attack," 5 June 2018
Trump’s comments set up a potential legal battle, which could change the legal interpretation of presidential power.

— Bloomberg.com, "Trump Says he Can Pardon Himself, but Doesn’t Need to (Audio)," 4 June 2018
Following a cocktail party on the front lawn, presentations and dinner took place at tables set up behind the house.

— ellen olivier, latimes.com, "Pointed jokes and open wallets help Chrysalis Butterfly Ball raise $1.8 million to help the homeless," 4 June 2018
Perata, while popular with a good portion of the voters, was disliked by even more voters — setting up that anyone-but-Perata dynamic.

— matier & ross, San Francisco Chronicle, "In SF mayor’s race, being No. 2 could be key to winning the race," 3 June 2018
Sydney Hupp, then an aide to Mr. Pruitt at the E.P.A., said in an email setting up the event.

— New York Times, "A Courtside View of Scott Pruitt’s Cozy Ties With a Billionaire Coal Baron," 2 June 2018
Cardinal Peter Turkson , who spearheaded the encyclical, set up the June 8-9 conference with the executives.

— nicole winfield and seth borenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Pope summons oil executives to Vatican to talk climate change," 2 June 2018
Mueller is investigating whether the Seychelles meeting with Erik Prince was an effort to set up a backchannel between the incoming Trump administration and the Russian government.

— NBC News, "Jared Kushner close friend Rick Gerson now under scrutiny from Mueller," 1 June 2018
More: Pitcher Shelby Kelley leads Ballard to 7th Region title Templeman, who led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, set up Abbott’s heroics with a bit of her own to end the Jaguars’ seventh.

— steve bittenbender, The Courier-Journal, "Butler ends its 11-year drought and takes home Sixth Region title," 1 June 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

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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