# install

/ˌɪnˈstɔɫ/ (US) · /ɪnstˈɔːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/install
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. equipment or software

verb · CEFR B1

to put a piece of equipment, furniture, or a computer program in place so it is ready to use.

For teachers: to set up or connect equipment, machinery, or software for operational use.

- The technician will come tomorrow to install the new washing machine.
- The IT department requires all employees to install the latest security patch before accessing the internal server from home.

### 2. formal position

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to officially put someone into an important new job or position.

For teachers: to admit someone formally into an office, rank, or position of authority.

- The university will install the new president during a ceremony next month.
- The board of directors voted unanimously to install the interim CEO as the permanent head of the corporation.

### 3. to settle in

verb · CEFR B2

to settle yourself or someone else comfortably in a place.

For teachers: to establish or settle oneself or another person in a particular place or position.

- She installed herself in the most comfortable armchair with a hot cup of tea.
- After the long flight, he promptly installed his elderly parents in the guest suite and made sure they had everything they needed.

### 4. software setup

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the process of putting a new program onto a computer.

For teachers: the process or instance of installing a software application.

- The install took much longer than expected because the file was very large.
- The system administrator monitored the remote install to ensure that no registry errors occurred during the final configuration phase.

## Examples

- I need to install the latest update on my phone.
- The technician will arrive tomorrow morning to install the new security cameras around the office building.
- Before the research team could begin data collection, they had to install specialized sensors across the entire facility to monitor fluctuations in ambient temperature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
