setting 1 of 2

noun

ˈse-tiŋ How to pronounce setting (audio)
Definition of settingnext
1
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded the novice camper felt lost outside of his familiar urban setting

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Relevance
2
as in scene
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the setting for the novel is Victorian England

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setting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of set
1
as in spawning
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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2
as in choosing
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority set a date for the wedding

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3
as in estimating
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding fire losses were set at a million dollars

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4
as in sitting
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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6
as in deciding
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of finally set some plans for the luncheon

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7
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position had the jeweler set the diamond again

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8
as in freezing
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly the gelatin is just starting to set now

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9
as in situating
to arrange something in a certain spot or position set a book on the table

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10
as in hardening
to become physically firm or solid the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word setting distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of setting are background, environment, milieu, and mise-en-scène. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

Where would background be a reasonable alternative to setting?

The meanings of background and setting largely overlap; however, background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

In what contexts can environment take the place of setting?

In some situations, the words environment and setting are roughly equivalent. However, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

When might milieu be a better fit than setting?

Although the words milieu and setting have much in common, milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

When is mise-en-scène a more appropriate choice than setting?

The synonyms mise-en-scène and setting are sometimes interchangeable, but mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

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 setting
Noun
Katie Ledecky and our Elise Devlin chatted about goal-setting, mentorship and finding balance among your interests. —Sam Settleman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025 Adjusting your settings and being cautious about sharing content can make a difference. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Former Kansas basketball forward Mitch Lightfoot, who participated in a record-setting six of coach Bill Self’s preseason boot camp conditioning programs, has offered a bit of advice to the many newcomers on the 2025-26 team. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025 Forbes has reported that Turkey pays athletes $380,000 for Olympic gold medals, plus an additional $190,000 for setting an Olympic record. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for setting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting
  1. environment
  2. scene
  3. spawning
  4. choosing
  5. estimating
  6. sitting
  7. aiming
  8. deciding
Noun
  • Improving business environment While trade tensions and worries about China's economic slowdown weighed on the near-term outlook, the survey respondents indicated significant improvement in the local regulatory environment.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Many happen in chaotic, low-light, or high-stress environments where conventional methods fail.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of environment
Noun
  • The restaurant still stands and Cianfrance says the scene with the meal is comprised of women from the church who remember Manchester from his time at Crossroads.
    — Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • He was charged with felony counts of leaving the scene of crash involving death, driving without a license causing death and resisting arrest, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Mark Price, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of scene
Verb
  • The movie gained a huge following during the 1980s home video era, spawning multiple sequels, a beloved TV series, and an enduring fanbase.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Over time, it's only woven itself deeper into the fabric of American cultural consciousness, spawning new memes, mottos, and social media trends each year.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of spawning
Verb
  • This means regularly assessing your thinking skills, consciously choosing when to engage versus delegate mental tasks, and maintaining practices that keep your mind sharp.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Neighbors lined up against the farmers’ solar project, putting the county commission in a position of choosing between private property rights and what neighbors think is best.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • The Series 11 should last longer, with Apple estimating 24 hours of use on a charge.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Airlines faced massive deficits after 9/11, with the Air Transport Association estimating losses of $10 billion in the immediate aftermath.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • The ozone layer is a thin shield of gas located 10 to 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface in the stratosphere, which is the second major layer of the atmosphere, sitting above the troposphere and extending up to 50 kilometers.
    — Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In the row behind Blanchett and Gyllenhaal was Martin Short — sitting with his Only Murders in the Building costars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez — who caught up with Jimmy Kimmel during a commercial break.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of sitting
Verb
  • The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big.
    — Jay Cannon, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers.
    — James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of aiming
Verb
  • Palmer was part of a movement deciding to try something else instead of college.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
  • When deciding costumes, Heimann worked with Crowe to create scene-specific outfits, assembling a closet of clothes for each character.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of deciding

Browse Nearby Words

settees
setting
setting about
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Cite this Entry

“Setting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on setting

Nglish: Translation of setting for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about setting

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