1
as in to put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
set up tables in the living room for the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position
set up a post from which to hang the sign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials
set up the prefabricated shed by following the instructions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to heal
to restore to a healthy condition
don't worry, the doctor will set you up in no time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in layout
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized
the textbook's setup calls for a list of questions at the end of each chapter
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in sequence
the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another
changed the setup of the living room furniture several times before being satisfied
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of set up
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
Visor is the company set up by Jordan Levine after his Yale Entertainment was discontinued following financial woes.
—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
With this setup, switching to electric trucks was a logical next step.
—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for set up
Verb
Washington and Tehran agreed to set up new communication lines to ensure the vital Strait of Hormuz is open and end fighting in Lebanon, mediators said.
—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
Visor is the company set up by Jordan Levine after his Yale Entertainment was discontinued following financial woes.
—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Noun
On occasion, reporters quite literally tripped and fell over tripods and camera setups while the unfazed athletes answered a line of seemingly never-ending rapid-fire questions.
—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
With this setup, switching to electric trucks was a logical next step.
—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for set up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set up
Verb
-
In addition to the fear of deportation, the ruling puts thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work authorization and their jobs, according to a Haitian-American journalist.
-
That lawsuit, in part, accuses City Attorney Miko Brown of pushing airport officials to investigate a charter airline's safety record -- not because of genuine safety concerns, but to create legal cover for a city council vote that put $90 million in federal grant money at risk.
Verb
-
Organizations considering a pilot should establish measurable outcomes upfront and track productivity, engagement, turnover, customer satisfaction, operational performance, and financial impact over time.
-
The state has not yet begun reporting its results, but protocols were established in 2021.
Verb
-
On Thursday morning, police erected roadblocks on all major highways around Nairobi, blocking motorists from accessing the city.
-
The state has rejected accusations of environmental harm and said the airport was already developed, with activity occurring before the tent detention camp was erected.
Verb
-
Antonio went on to build a blended family with Mekevia Hawkins, whose daughter, Diamond Spaulding, competed in track and field at Texas A&M University, according to her bio.
-
The jurisdictional conundrum grew only worse as the VA issued 99-year leases to local developers to build those initial 1,200 units.
Verb
-
Wellness touches abound, from three types of healing bath salts to positive affirmations on the clothes hangers and musical instruments to strum in lieu of a TV (although the latter is available on request).
-
Dumont’s team wondered whether there was a kind of automatic repair mechanism that could heal spans of the fiber when it was subjected to force.
Noun
-
Dowell said the course layout was especially difficult because it was built more for skateboards — the women’s skateboard park event immediately followed the men’s BMX.
-
That means creating an easily navigable layout, incorporating soft, inviting textures and materials, and choosing extra-comfortable furniture.
Noun
-
After the sequence, Plata lay on the grass and put his hands on his head in frustration.
-
From here, the components are finished through a sequence of surface treatments including microblasting, sanding and black PVD coating on the baseplate while the bridges receive wet sandblasting followed by either Titalyt® or PVD treatment.
Verb
-
It’s situated in downtown Sarasota near Sarasota Bay, putting you close to an array of restaurants and attractions like The Bay park and Selby Gardens.
-
In its previous incarnation, the night club—the biggest of a handful of venues situated in an industrial zone near the edge of East Williamsburg—was known as the Brooklyn Mirage, and its reputation was not uniformly good.
Cite this Entry
“Set up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20up. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
