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

Invest in technologies that can be configured to create multiple layers of security. —Rob Lydic, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Improperly configured Wi-Fi networks can pose a serious cybersecurity risk to organizations, enabling people outside the organization to log into the Wi-Fi network in a worst-case scenario. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 8 June 2025

Its intuitive, no-code interface empowers sales teams to configure complex deals swiftly, reducing reliance on IT support and accelerating the sales cycle. —Grace Butler, USA Today, 7 June 2025

Shop by category or try one of its design tools to configure your own custom piece. —Erika Owen, Vogue, 6 June 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