1
a
: carriage of the body
especially
: erect and soldierly bearing
b
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
8
: something done by deceit or trickery in order to compromise or frame someone
set up; setting up; sets up
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
b
4
: to place in power or in office
set up the general as dictator
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
14
: to execute one or more plays in preparation for scoring
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
Thomas Rogers4
: to become firm
Synonyms
Examples of setup in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
set up tables in the living room for the party
set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
This setup is ideal for large households needing robust, easy-to-install Wi-Fi.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
This month, Eastman, working with prison librarians across the country, set up a GoFundMe page through Chevalier’s to raise funds to purchase books for the incarcerated.
—Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setup 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Good rattling/grunting setup: Wind in your face and rock bluff or stream at your back.
—Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
This setup is ideal for large households needing robust, easy-to-install Wi-Fi.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
That set up an elimination bracket matchup with Legend on Saturday.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
This month, Eastman, working with prison librarians across the country, set up a GoFundMe page through Chevalier’s to raise funds to purchase books for the incarcerated.
—Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setup
Dictionary Entries Near setup
Cite this Entry
“Setup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setup. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
setup
1 of 2 noun
set·up
ˈset-ˌəp 
: the way in which something is set up : organization, arrangement
set up
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)set-ˈəp
1
: to place in position
set up a target
2
a
: erect entry 2 sense 1
set up a building
b
: to assemble the parts of
set up a machine
3
: to cause to happen
the wind sets up a humming in the wires
4
: to put in operation : found, inaugurate
set up a school
5
: to put in operation as a way of living
set up housekeeping
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