VocabauraVOCABAURA

set up

verb · adjective

Simple meaning

To make ready for use.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

sehtuhp

Say the bold part a little louder.

US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈsɛˈtʌp

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

verb

  1. transitive

    To make ready for use.

  2. Set up for use

  3. transitive

    To arrange logically.

  4. Take or catch as if in a snare or trap

  5. transitive

    To cause to happen.

  6. transitive

    To trap or ensnare.

adjective

  1. In a position to function; ready.

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: To make ready for use.

Used this way, set up is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
No strong connotation
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

Share your sentence

Write your own example sentence using “set up”. We review each one before it appears.

Ask Vocabaura

Understand the word your way.

What Does It Mean Here?

Words can change meaning depending on context.

Use it yourself

Knowing “set up” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.

Know the meaning? Practice using it in a real situation, free, no credits.

Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.