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.

---

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

---

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

• presettable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preset

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + set

Example Sentences

BlackRock and other managers are growing their active funds in part through their model portfolios, or preset investment templates that money managers design for financial advisers to follow.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Her face appears on tourist shop merchandise and, as she puts it with typical precision, even on preset Redbubble cushion covers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

It simply chooses the most plausible word to follow the previous one, based on preset parameters and the vast quantities of information it has been trained on.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 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