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
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4
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials
set up the prefabricated shed by following the instructions
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5
as in to heal
to restore to a healthy condition
don't worry, the doctor will set you up in no time
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set up
Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
The threat of tornadoes lies mainly along I-80 — give or take some tens of miles — near where the warm front will set up, Doom said.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Mae Anderson, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
For an extra layer of comfort and polish, a third flat sheet completes the five-star setup.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set up
Verb
Waymo doesn’t plan to launch its service in Minnesota until the state enacts new laws to set up basic regulations.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
The threat of tornadoes lies mainly along I-80 — give or take some tens of miles — near where the warm front will set up, Doom said.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
Of the 330,566 importers who paid tariffs, only 21,423 have completed the setup process to receive their refunds electronically.
—Mae Anderson, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
For an extra layer of comfort and polish, a third flat sheet completes the five-star setup.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set up
Verb
-
Matthews left the game immediately, without putting any weight on the leg, and wasn’t able to return.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Consecutive victories over the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves put the Lakers back in the contender conversation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In San Antonio, Kornet quickly established himself again as one of the funniest guys in the locker room, as well as a valuable teammate on the court.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The six vacant buildings, which the county is leasing to establish the Los Angeles County Care Community, have been vacant since the early 2000s.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The group is also said to be digging tunnels, building bunkers, and erecting barriers and other defensive structures in case of an attack by the United States and Israel.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In 2014, Bolsonaro, then just a congressman, spit on a bust of Paiva erected to honor his memory during the coup’s 50th anniversary in Congress.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When it was built, the mall was part of a trend among commercial builders to create mini downtowns for cities that lacked them.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Delicious food all around, but perhaps not coherent enough to build a nation on.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One specimen examined by Brochu’s team displayed multiple, partially healed jaw injuries indicative of a brawl with a fellow ambush predator.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
-
So, once those start to heal up as well.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The layout telegraphs multigenerational and flexible living.—
David Caraccio
March 7,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
But Berger knows danger lurks throughout Bay Hill’s 7,466-yard layout, which ranked as the fifth-toughest course in 2025 among the PGA Tour’s annual stops.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The pattern reinforces how your muscles fire in sequence and how your body transfers force during related movements.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
That’s why Propp suggests trying it in a classroom, where many students can flip sequences of coins simultaneously.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The traditionally conservative 14th Congressional District is situated in the northwest corner of Georgia and borders both Alabama and Tennessee.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The epicenter was situated roughly 18 miles north-northwest of Benton, at a depth of just 2 miles.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20up. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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