1
as in putting
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
set up tables in the living room for the party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in founding
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city
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3
as in erecting
to fix in an upright position
set up a post from which to hang the sign
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4
as in building
to form by putting together parts or materials
set up the prefabricated shed by following the instructions
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5
as in healing
to restore to a healthy condition
don't worry, the doctor will set you up in no time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setting up
Under pressure throughout the final set, Sabalenka just about hauled herself over the line, an ace setting up match point.
—
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Canes defenders gave Notre Dame receivers too much cushion in coverage, the interior of the defense allowed too many holes up the middle and linebacker Mohamed Toure busted coverage on Eli Raridon’s 65-yard catch and run, setting up Carr’s 7-yard run for the tying touchdown.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Mystics guard Sug Sutton answered immediately with a three, setting up a dramatic finish.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
For further background about setting up custom instructions in generative AI, see my description at the link here.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The Gilded Age may well be setting up a divorce situation for Bertha rather than for Gladys, especially given the real-life divorce of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Canes defenders gave Notre Dame receivers too much cushion in coverage, the interior of the defense allowed too many holes up the middle and linebacker Mohamed Toure busted coverage on Eli Raridon’s 65-yard catch and run, setting up Carr’s 7-yard run for the tying touchdown.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Mystics guard Sug Sutton answered immediately with a three, setting up a dramatic finish.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
For further background about setting up custom instructions in generative AI, see my description at the link here.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The Gilded Age may well be setting up a divorce situation for Bertha rather than for Gladys, especially given the real-life divorce of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting up
Verb
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The driver who takes you into the park is putting his kids through school.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Always air-dry liners rather than putting them in the dryer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Anmol Verma is a founding team member at Finvest, an AI Wealth Advisory Platform, a former institutional investor and a Wharton MBA.—
Anmol Verma,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The area around the stadium will be named Maybelle Blair Park after the IWBC founding director emeritus and a former pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe had sued the state and federal government for sidestepping federal environmental regulations when erecting the site in an airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
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Trained by his enslaver in bricklaying and carpentry, Moses became foreman of a building crew, erecting barns, homes, and warehouses across the South.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Xi Jinping has remarked that relying on foreign supply of critical technologies—like semiconductors—is tantamount to building one's house on someone else's foundation.—
Joel Thayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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The handle twists at a 90-degree angle to become a high-speed hair dryer, but locked into its upright position, the device converts into a self-winding curling iron, a frizz-smoothing paddle brush, and a volume-building oval brush.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ride bareback on a steed into the Indian Ocean with the popular Swimming with Horses activity, try healing equine therapy with the gentle creatures or partake in yoga, massage or reiki that all involve horses.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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This week, the Aries Moon on Monday and Tuesday lights a fire under your joy sector, reminding you that play and creativity are healing too.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By situating stablecoin pilots in these two hubs, China can cautiously test global use cases while keeping its capital account firewall intact.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Union leaders cautiously welcomed the apology, viewing it as a necessary step in establishing trust between Mamdani and law enforcement—a group historically skeptical of his platform.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
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With the help of the courts, these governments disfranchised Black voters, establishing poll taxes, literacy tests, understanding clauses, and other measures to effectively deny them the vote.—
Time,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
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There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Setting up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting%20up. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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