setup

American  

[set-uhp] / ˈsɛtˌʌp /

noun

• setups
  plural

1. organization; arrangement.

2. an act or instance of setting up or getting ready.

   The setup of the lights and camera took most of the morning.

3. the carriage of the body; bearing.

4. a camera position, as for a particular shot.

5. everything required for an alcoholic drink except the liquor, as a glass, ice, and soda water, as served to patrons who provide their own liquor.

6. Informal.

   1. an undertaking or contest deliberately made easy.

   2. a match or game arranged with an opponent who can be defeated without risk or effort.

   3. an opponent easy to defeat.

7. Sports.

   1. a shot or play that results in a puck, shuttlecock, ball, or balls being so positioned as to provide a player with an easy opportunity for a winning shot.

      a playmaker who excels in setups.

   2. the position of such a puck, ball, etc..

      a setup close to and to the left of the goalkeeper.

   3. the puck, ball, etc., itself.

      The wing banged the setup into the goal.

8. an arrangement of all the tools, parts, apparatus, etc., necessary for any of various specific jobs or purposes.

9. the equipment or items necessary for a particular activity or period; kit.

   Each student gets a weekly setup of clean blankets, sheets, and towels.

10. a plan or projected course of action.

11. a prearranged situation or circumstance, usually created to fool or trap someone; trick; scheme.

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Usage

See login.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• setups
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of setup

First recorded in 1600–10; noun use of verb phrase set up

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

setup setups

This setup allowed the team to measure the forces the metals could withstand and determine how far they could stretch before breaking.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Among the murkier aspects of this setup is what will happen if the trustees come to feel that the co-founders have lost their devotion to safety and their board majority tries to right the ship.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

ServiceNow reports earnings for its September quarter Wednesday, and Morgan Stanley’s Adam Wood wrote that the company’s setup for earnings looks “achievable.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

In its most poignant moments, Wilson and Fischer use the film’s unconventional setup to approach old questions with new flair.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

At first Gary thought it was a setup, but the instructor assured him that it wasn’t, just a little extra teaching aid.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

"The biggest challenge has been juggling clients who want their sites taken offline as a precaution, while trying to coordinate updates and fixes across countless different setups," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Both Samsung and Google pack dedicated triple-camera setups or ultra-high megapixel sensors into their foldables, whereas Apple makes modest hardware compromises on its camera array to keep the Duo thin and lightweight.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Tickets that appear unavailable one day could go on the market weeks later as organizers gain a clearer picture of setups.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

If you’re the type who likes to be ready at the drop of a hat, try any one of these all-inclusive picnic setups, which include plates, silverware, cups and even a wine opener.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

Mr. Partridge had been timing their setups and breakdowns all week.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead

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Related Words

• composition
• foundation
• set-up
• structure
• system

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