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

Etymology

Origin of setup

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

Example Sentences

Setup: The analog characters freak out—“We’re all just landfill now!”—when kids turn into little zombies staring at glowing screens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Already Strong Security Setup: If you have a well-configured home network with strong passwords, updated firmware, WPA3 encryption and regularly updated devices, your baseline security may already be quite good.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

Apple’s Family Setup feature, which debuted with the SE, lets you set up an Apple Watch SE using a parent or caregiver’s iPhone.

From The Verge • Sep. 7, 2022

Apple also introduced Family Setup, software that let parents track their children’s locations, manage their contacts list and limit their notifications.

From New York Times • Sep. 1, 2022

Setup man Evan Phillips wasn’t asked to return to the mound for a second inning.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2022

Related Words

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