preset

American  

[pree-set, pree-set] / priˈsɛt, ˈpriˌsɛt /

verb (used with object)

preset, presetting

1. to set beforehand.

2. to set (an electric or electronic appliance) to become activated at a designated time.

   We preset the coffeemaker to go on at 6 a.m.

3. to adjust (a connector, switch, or the like) so that when activated it will perform a designated function.

   The tuning buttons on the radio are preset to my favorite FM stations.

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adjective

1. set in advance.

   a preset radio adjusted to receive certain stations.

2. (of the guidance system of a missile or the course of flight it determines) set before launching to reach a specific destination without any alteration in response to signals from the ground.

noun

1. a knob or button that activates a preset appliance.

   Just push the preset and coffee will be ready when you get up.

2. a similar device on a radio that can be activated to tune in a preselected station.

preset British  

/ prɪˈsɛt /

verb

1. to set (a timing device) so that something begins to operate at the time specified

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noun

1. electronics a control, such as a variable resistor, that is not as accessible as the main controls and is used to set initial conditions

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• presettable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preset

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + set

Example Sentences

Lagarde repeatedly said the central bank wasn’t on a preset path.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Puts give investors the right to sell shares at a certain preset price and become more valuable as the underlying stock’s price decreases, so they are used by investors betting stocks will go down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

It helps the studios too that these names come with "preset audiences" at a time when cinema is struggling against streaming.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Agentic AI systems require different infrastructure than a chatbot, which relies on preset scripts to answer questions.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Each day I was allowed to select meals from a preset menu of healthy, low-calorie foods.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline