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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials
set up the prefabricated shed by following the instructions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to heal
to restore to a healthy condition
don't worry, the doctor will set you up in no time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 set up
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Aaron Nesmith scored 20 points — and made six 3-pointers — during a torrid fourth quarter to set up Haliburton’s clutch basket.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
ArsTechnica, 24 May 2025
The detectors weigh 25 pounds and require less than one minute of setup time, according to the website.
—Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for set up
Verb
Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation Rogue Nation set up what these films sorely lacked up until this point: a recurring villain in the shadowy Syndicate that could serve as a viable foil to Ethan Hunt’s IMF, the SPECTRE to his MI6.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Aaron Nesmith scored 20 points — and made six 3-pointers — during a torrid fourth quarter to set up Haliburton’s clutch basket.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Noun
The multi-axis driver in the loop simulators might look like just a very expensive video game, but these multimillion-dollar setups aren't about having fun.
—ArsTechnica, 24 May 2025
The detectors weigh 25 pounds and require less than one minute of setup time, according to the website.
—Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for set up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set up
Verb
-
Trump was given 10 days to put the injunction into effect, per the order accompanying the ruling.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
30 May 2025
-
This puts it in the premium category of water sports equipment.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
On the ground floor there is also a window display dedicated to its signature web motif in green/red/green and in blue/red/blue established in the mid-1950s.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
-
Urban Exploration Hartford, the state capital, boasts a growing LGBTQ+ scene centered around Chez Est, a restaurant and cabaret established in 1983 and believed to be the first entertainment venue of its kind in the state’s history.—
Joshua Alston,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
In this way, a fence was erected, but purely for certain people.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
20 May 2025
-
These weren’t hastily erected barracks or rows of identical homes.—
Eran Ben-Joseph,
The Conversation,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
Except the enigmatic Anti-Zsa Zsa committee that’s been bankrolling all those plane bombs have also just tanked the market in terms of the materials needed to build all of this.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
-
The company is making a credible effort to build that foundation from the ground up.—
Steve McDowell,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Others begin with We—healing teams, reshaping culture.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Days get easier, but there's no day where it's totally healed.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Each room is different and serves a different type of traveler—from single suites for couples, to two-bedroom layouts for families.—
Christopher Cameron,
Robb Report,
22 May 2025
-
The unlimited coworking offer with access to an open layout lounge is $199 a month.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Shot in slow motion from overhead, the sequence features a bandaged and bloodied Korda luxuriating — eating, reading, smoking — in his bath as assorted nurses and household staff flit around him as if in a ballet.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 May 2025
-
The child starts to recognize quantities, sequences, and patterns.—
Jose Bolanos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
This resort along the Lesser Antilles features Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas, spacious suites situated in a secluded cove with a dedicated second-floor deck offering ocean views.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2025
-
The renowned luxury hotel is situated just a few blocks from Lake Michigan and not too far from the Near West Side, where Harpo Studios, Winfrey’s multimedia production company, was located at the time.—
Joyce Chen,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20up. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share