setting 1 of 2

noun

ˈse-tiŋ How to pronounce setting (audio)
Definition of settingnext
1
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded the novice camper felt lost outside of his familiar urban setting

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Relevance
2
as in scene
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the setting for the novel is Victorian England

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setting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of set
1
as in spawning
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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2
as in choosing
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority set a date for the wedding

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3
as in estimating
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding fire losses were set at a million dollars

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4
as in sitting
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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6
as in deciding
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of finally set some plans for the luncheon

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7
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position had the jeweler set the diamond again

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8
as in freezing
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly the gelatin is just starting to set now

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9
as in situating
to arrange something in a certain spot or position set a book on the table

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10
as in hardening
to become physically firm or solid the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word setting distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of setting are background, environment, milieu, and mise-en-scène. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

Where would background be a reasonable alternative to setting?

The meanings of background and setting largely overlap; however, background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

In what contexts can environment take the place of setting?

In some situations, the words environment and setting are roughly equivalent. However, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

When might milieu be a better fit than setting?

Although the words milieu and setting have much in common, milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

When is mise-en-scène a more appropriate choice than setting?

The synonyms mise-en-scène and setting are sometimes interchangeable, but mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

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 setting
Noun
Amid a hectic production schedule, Bourdais traveled from France to Morocco to Turkey in search of a spectacular natural setting seemingly untouched by human intervention. —Siobhan Reid, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025 The property’s serene fjord-side setting and intimate scale promise a restorative retreat for travelers to the north. —Mia Taylor, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
The setting moves from Seattle to Los Angeles, and Garza Cervera says the characters have different, more complex backstories. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 In a letter to senators after last month’s earnings call, Delta Air Lines’ Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Peter Carter, explained how the carrier does and doesn’t use passenger data for setting prices. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for setting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting
  1. environment
  2. scene
  3. spawning
  4. choosing
  5. estimating
  6. sitting
  7. aiming
  8. deciding
Noun
  • Signs throughout the museum ask visitors to consider how the climate has changed the course of human evolution, and how humans have affected the environment around them.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of environment
Noun
  • Appropriators are working behind the scenes to craft a yearlong bipartisan spending plan but are likely to need another stopgap funding measure to avoid a shutdown, which will require at least seven Democrats to cross the aisle and break a 60-vote filibuster.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025
  • In January 2024, a downsizing Groupon moved to smaller digs downtown, leaving a 300,000-square-foot hole in the onetime nexus of the Chicago tech scene.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of scene
Verb
  • These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.
    — Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Definition of spawning
Verb
  • Soaking legumes and choosing whole grains over refined grains can improve your magnesium absorption.
    — Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The woman agrees with that perspective and is choosing to look at it as a learning experience.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • Every company should have a contingency plan estimating the cost and operational impact of remedies like unbundling services or forced data sharing.
    — Kevan Yalowitz, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The center's aurora dashboard has an animation estimating what aurora visibility will be like for the next 30 minutes.
    — Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • During the more than two-hour conversation, Swift and Kelce spoke candidly while sitting side-by-side, providing rare insights into their relationship.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The music created, in a packed living room, a sense of anticipation, like each of us was sitting at the highest point of a roller coaster, admiring the clouds for minutes at a time before being flung back to earth.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Definition of sitting
Verb
  • However, Valadao has a strong local following, and this new seat would be the most politically tenuous among those Democrats are aiming to flip.
    — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
    — Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of aiming
Verb
  • The two stuck close to each other's sides while posing for the cameras, even deciding to share a smooch to celebrate the exciting night.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Sunday government officials did not conduct any data projections before deciding to roll back vaccine mandates to assess the impact this move would have on the state’s overall case numbers.
    — Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of deciding

Browse Nearby Words

settees
setting
setting about
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Cite this Entry

“Setting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on setting

Nglish: Translation of setting for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about setting

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