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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
-
However, China is doubling down on its efforts to bolster advanced manufacturing, which could put both countries on a collision course.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
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
-
The company is making a credible effort to build that foundation from the ground up.—
Steve McDowell,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
Karl, 17, appeared on the first-team bench in the Bundesliga this season and will probably spend the next few years building experience at senior level away from Bayern.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Days get easier, but there's no day where it's totally healed.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
-
Others begin with We—healing teams, reshaping culture.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
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
-
Units range from one to four bedrooms with layouts spanning 700 square feet to 3,300 square feet.—
Emma Reynolds,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Establish a consistent bedtime routine: A simple sequence like bath, book, feed, lullaby, and bed can cue sleep.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
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Richards played all 540 minutes of Palace’s triumphant FA Cup run, a six-match sequence that included three contests against teams in the top half of the Premier League table.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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The cartoon Alison is situated in a space outside herself, with Holly, and goats, and neighbors.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2025
-
Because of a Kansas law in the 1860s that outlawed public hangings, Bates-Lamborn explained that the gallows were situated inside the warehouse, away from the view of other prisoners.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20up. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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