set (oneself) up as (something)

phrasal verb

set (oneself) up as (something); setting (oneself) up as (something); sets (oneself) up as (something)

: to try to make people believe that one is (something)

He sets himself up as a defender of the people, but he's really only interested in getting more power.

: to start one's own business

She set herself up as a wedding planner.

Examples of set (oneself) up as (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Back in his own palace, a room was set up as a doctor’s surgery and another for a barber — complete with the chrome and leather presidential barber’s chair. —

Richard Engel, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024 Essentially set up as a one-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms and a powder room, the penthouse pad spans about 3,000 square feet. —

Mark David, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024 The retail space is set up as a trio of salons, including a VIP room. —

Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 6 Dec. 2024 Two bedrooms are off a hallway extending from the dining room, with one currently set up as a home office. —

Angela Serratore, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for set (oneself) up as (something)

Dictionary Entries Near set (oneself) up as (something)

set (oneself) against

set (oneself) up as (something)

Setophaga

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“Set (oneself) up as (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20%28oneself%29%20up%20as%20%28something%29. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

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