configure

verb

con·​fig·​ure kən-ˈfi-gyər 

 especially British  -ˈfi-gə

configured; configuring

transitive verb

: to set up for operation especially in a particular way

a fighter plane configured for the Malaysian air force

Examples of configure in a Sentence

The instructions tell you how to configure the kit correctly.

The plane is configured for military use.

Recent Examples on the Web

Configure Rules For Security Have rules or MCP servers configured that instruct the vibe coding tool to consider security requirements when building out features, like input validation, authentication, authorization, logging and strong encryption. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

By contrast, Microsoft Teams requires you to understand the company's software ecosystem and wade through admin settings to configure a workspace and add users. —John Brandon, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025

The technology features 256 elements configured within a special helmet to send focused beams of ultrasound to specific parts of the brain in order to turn neuronal activity up or down. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

Buyers will need to choose the inductive charging option when configuring their Cayenne EV. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English configuren (as past participle configurid) "to model on, conform to," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French configurer "to compare, form," borrowed from Latin configūrāre "to mold, shape," from con- con- + figūrāre "to shape, form, make a likeness of" — more at figure entry 2

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing configure

• pre-configure

Rhymes for configure

• disfigure
• prefigure
• figure
• reconfigure

Kids Definition

configure

verb

con·​fig·​ure kən-ˈfig-yər 

configured; configuring

: to set up for operation especially in a particular way

ships configured for observation