# set sth up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/set-sth-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to organize or prepare something so it is ready to be used.

For teachers: to arrange, establish, or assemble the necessary components for a system, organization, or piece of equipment to function.

## Examples

- I need to set my new computer up.
- The team arrived early at the park to set the equipment up for the charity race.
- After securing the necessary permits, the entrepreneurs began to set up a local distribution network to reach underserved rural communities.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I will setup the meeting." but "I will set up the meeting." — the verb is two words ('set up'); 'setup' as one word is a noun referring to the arrangement itself.

## Usage notes

- commonly used for businesses, meetings, equipment, or digital accounts.
- Teaching tip: this is a highly productive phrasal verb; contrast it with 'install' for software or 'establish' for companies to show its versatility in daily speech.

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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.