setting

[set-ing]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that sets.

2. the surroundings or environment of anything.

   The garden was a perfect setting for the house.

3. the mounting in which a jewel is set.

4. a group of all the articles, as of china, silver, or glass, required for setting a table or a single place at a table.

5. the locale or period in which the action of a novel, play, film, etc., takes place.

   The setting of this story is Verona in the 15th century.

6. Also called stage setting. Also called stage set. the scenery and other properties used in a dramatic performance.

7. Music.

   1. a piece of music composed for certain words.

   2. a piece of music composed for a particular medium, or arranged for other than the original medium.

setting

/ ˈsɛtɪŋ /

noun

1. the surroundings in which something is set; scene

2. the scenery, properties, or background, used to create the location for a stage play, film, etc

3. music a composition consisting of a certain text and music provided or arranged for it

4. the metal mounting and surround of a gem

   diamonds in an antique gold setting

5. the tableware, cutlery, etc, for a single place at table

6. any of a series of points on a scale or dial that can be selected to control the level as of temperature, speed, etc, at which a machine functions

7. a clutch of eggs in a bird's nest, esp a clutch of hen's eggs

Other Word Forms

• nonsetting adjective
• unsetting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of setting¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English; set, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

See environment.

Example Sentences

Lecornu warned on Friday that all those who wanted to join his government "must commit to setting aside presidential ambitions" for the 2027 elections.

Read more on Barron's

Instead, he may suggest setting up a separate growth-investing account — what he calls an “opportunity portfolio” — where those alternate assets can go.

Read more on MarketWatch

Parents also have tools, including the ability to configure settings on streaming accounts to try to shield children from inappropriate content.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The settings—generic spaces such as cafés, train stations, hotel lobbies, and offices—tend to be described with similar brevity, while the detectives’ actions are recounted in prose generally lacking metaphor, simile, or fanciful digression.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I listened to war news with my family on the radio, watched newsreels about the war at the movies and went to many movies with war settings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambience 
• backdrop 
• context 
• environment 
• framework 
• locale 
• location 
• site 
• surroundings