ENGLISH
REFERENCE

setup

n.
US //ˈsɛˌtəp// UK //sˈɛtʌp// set·up
  1. 1 arrangement or organization (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the way that something is organized or arranged.

    the configuration or organizational structure of a system, business, or situation.

    Example

    I really like the setup at my new office because everyone sits together.

    Example

    The current political setup makes it difficult for smaller parties to gain any significant representation in the local assembly.

    Usage

    often used with 'the' or 'a' to describe a social or professional situation.
    Pitfall
    I need to setup the new computer.
    I need to set up the new computer.

    Use the two-word 'set up' for the verb and the one-word 'setup' for the noun.

  2. 2 equipment or tools (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    the set of equipment or tools you use for a specific activity.

    the physical apparatus or assembly of equipment required for a particular purpose or operation.

    Example

    He spent a lot of money on a professional gaming setup with three monitors.

    Example

    The laboratory setup included a high-speed camera and several sensors designed to capture the chemical reaction in real time.

    Usage

    frequently used in gaming, photography, and home office contexts.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 a trick or frame-up (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a dishonest plan that makes someone seem guilty of something they did not do.

    a scheme or deceptive arrangement intended to incriminate an innocent person or produce a predetermined negative outcome.

    Example

    The thief claimed it was a setup and that the police had planted the money.

    Example

    The protagonist eventually realizes that the entire job was a setup designed to distract the authorities from the real crime.
  2. 4 software installation (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    the process of installing a new program on a computer.

    the initial process of installing and configuring software or hardware for first-time use.

    Example

    Double-click the setup file to begin installing the software on your laptop.

    Example

    The automated setup failed because the system lacked the necessary administrative permissions to modify the registry files.

    Usage

    often refers specifically to the 'setup.exe' file or the installation wizard.
    • uninstallation
Origin

Deverbal from set up.

© 2026 English Reference