sets up

present tense third-person singular of set up
1
2
3
4
5

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 sets up The episode sets up Hal and John’s budding mentor-mentee dynamic in a 2016 timeline, with Hal being a reluctant teacher. — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 Much of the first episode sets up the mystery that the Green Lantern and his protege are aiming to solve before ending with a twist. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026 The proposal also sets up ministerial and parliamentary committees to monitor the disarmament process. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 All of this sets up a likely $4 billion summer and $10 billion year, Dergarabedian said, which could make 2026 the highest-grossing summer and the highest-grossing year since 2019. — Angela Yang, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026 The win for Bailey sets up what should be an entertaining wrestling match against either Bandito or Fletcher. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Whoever wins the Republican runoff sets up a high-profile, big-money matchup. — Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 16 June 2026 But the decision sets up a circuit court split with rulings from the fifth and eighth circuits. — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026 Wentz re-signed in March for a second season with the Vikings, which sets up a completely opposite scenario for McCarthy from 2025. — Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets up
Verb
  • The average user on both a sportsbook and prediction market loses money, and trying to claw back losses puts users in even deeper financial holes, experts warn.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In Rhode Island, fisherman Chris Brown, who targets species such as fluke and squid out of Point Judith, puts it more bluntly.
    — Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Jean-Marie Le Pen founds the far-right National Front, building it around anti-immigration and nationalist policies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Goldschmied enters a partnership with Renzo Rosso and co-founds Diesel.
    — Maria Cristina Pavarini, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • King drops elephants through the air, erects wobbly Towers of Babel, lets characters run amok with depictions of her own pencils, and then summons a hand with a knife to clear a clean space on the page.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cody erects impenetrable emotional walls around him that deny him from asking for help and creating community.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • With no breaks and no rest, the pressure builds as the clock ticks down over an intense 24 hours, pushing even the most accomplished competitors to their limits.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Alejandro Sanz‘s songs form the foundation of El Alma al Aire, a new musical that builds an original story inspired by his repertoire.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • See God’s face in the love that heals a world’s hurt and hate.
    — Kit Cornell Kurtz, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Colorful gems and pearls surround XL sparkling Hello Kitty charms, turning each nail into a nostalgic statement that heals your inner child.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The murkiness of it all clarifies by the end of the film, not just in terms of its heroes, villains and message, but Greengrass also situates this story within a recognizable cinematic and storytelling history.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This situates it alongside the North Atlantic ocean that's populated with a variety of different kinds of whales.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The contract also establishes a binding grievance procedure and additional pay for employees who take on extra duties or are required to work on-site during an emergency.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • California’s At-Will Rule Sets the Baseline California Labor Code section 2922 establishes the state’s general rule for employment without a specified term.
    — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The organization, created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, receives no government funding, and raises money through private donations and sales of retail merchandise.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The necropsy indicating chronic gastrointestinal disease in two of the dead belugas certainly raises questions about their condition before transport.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sets up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20up. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!