setup

setup — verb

  • setuppresent simple I / you / we / they
  • setups3rd person singular
  • setuping-ing form
  • setupedpast simple

1. to lift something off the ground and put it somewhere above the floor, such as o

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to lift something off the ground and put it somewhere above the floor, such as on a wall, shelf, or pole.

例句

Zuri set the heavy mirror up on the wall above the fireplace.

separable: set + [object] + up

The workers set up a large sign above the entrance to the night market.

同義詞
  • mount

    more formal; suggests attaching to a surface with hardware

  • hang

    specific to suspending from above

  • elevate

    formal; raising to a higher level

反義詞
  • lower

    to bring something down from a high position

  • take down

    phrasal verb; to remove from a high position

文法句型

set + [object] + up

set up + [object]

用法筆記

The object can go between 'set' and 'up' (set the mirror up) or after 'up' (set up the mirror). If the object is a pronoun, it must go between: set it up, NOT set up it.

常見錯誤

Can you set up it on the shelf?
Can you set it up on the shelf?
💡pronouns must go between 'set' and 'up'.

2. to arrange goods, artwork, or other items in a visible place so that people can

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to arrange goods, artwork, or other items in a visible place so that people can look at them or buy them.

例句

The shop owner sets up a table of fresh fruit outside every morning.

Indra set her paintings up along the gallery wall for the weekend exhibition.

separable: set + [possessive] + [object] + up

同義詞
  • display

    more direct; can be transitive without a particle

  • arrange

    focuses on the order, not necessarily visibility

  • exhibit

    formal; used in museums and galleries

反義詞
  • pack away

    to put items back into storage after display

文法句型

set up + [object]

set + [object] + up (for display)

用法筆記

Often used in commercial or exhibition contexts. Can be confused with 'set out' which also means to arrange for display but tends to emphasise a neat, orderly arrangement.

3. to present an idea, plan, or suggestion to a person or group so that it can be d

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to present an idea, plan, or suggestion to a person or group so that it can be discussed and perhaps agreed upon.

例句

Iker set up a new plan for cutting energy costs at the factory.

The committee set up a few options for improving the local park.

同義詞
  • propose

    more formal; common in business meetings

  • put forward

    phrasal verb; same register and meaning

  • suggest

    less formal; implies less formal structure

反義詞
  • withdraw

    to take back a proposal or suggestion

文法句型

set up + [plan/proposal/scheme]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 6 (CREATE): sense 3 is about presenting a plan for discussion; sense 6 is about bringing something into existence. The plan in sense 3 may or may not be adopted.

4. to put the parts of something together so that it stands firmly in an upright po

4.動詞及物B1
釋義

to put the parts of something together so that it stands firmly in an upright position and is ready to use.

例句

Eve set the tent up in the backyard before the camping trip.

separable: set + [object] + up

The construction crew set up scaffolding around the old church tower.

同義詞
  • erect

    more formal; often used for buildings and large structures

  • assemble

    focuses on putting parts together, not necessarily upright

  • put up

    phrasal verb; everyday equivalent

反義詞

文法句型

set up + [object]

set + [object] + up

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (RAISE HIGH): sense 1 focuses on height (lifting onto a wall or shelf), while sense 4 focuses on assembling an upright object (tent, bookcase, scaffolding) from its parts on the ground.

5. to change the controls or settings of a device or system so that it works in the

5.動詞及物B1
釋義

to change the controls or settings of a device or system so that it works in the way you need it to.

例句

Rania set up the coffee machine to brew a fresh pot every morning.

Christopher set up the alarm system before the family left for holiday.

同義詞
  • configure

    technical; common in computing

  • adjust

    focuses on fine-tuning settings

  • calibrate

    technical; precise measurement adjustment

文法句型

set up + [device/machine/system]

set + [device] + up

用法筆記

The most frequent sense across all uses of 'set up'. The object is typically a device, machine, or software configuration. Unlike sense 4, the object may already be assembled but not yet configured correctly.

常見錯誤

I set the alarm up for six o'clock.' (correct but less natural)
I set up the alarm for six o'clock.
💡with long objects, putting them after 'up' sounds more natural.

6. to bring something into existence by making the necessary arrangements, such as

6.動詞及物B1
釋義

to bring something into existence by making the necessary arrangements, such as a fund, business, committee, or system.

例句

The charity set up a fund to help families whose homes were damaged.

common collocation: set up a fund

The university set up a scholarship for students from low-income backgrounds.

同義詞
  • establish

    more formal; often used for organisations and institutions

  • create

    general; can apply to anything new

  • found

    formal; specific to institutions, companies, or cities

  • start

    informal; everyday equivalent

反義詞
  • close down

    to end the operations of a business or organisation

  • abolish

    formal; to officially put an end to a system or institution

文法句型

set up + [fund/scholarship/committee/blog]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sibling sense 11 (verb/11: FOUND): sense 6 covers a wider range of creations (fund, blog, committee, store), while verb/11 focuses specifically on founding institutions such as a company, organisation, or city.

7. to place someone in a position of authority or give them an official role within

7.動詞及物B2
釋義

to place someone in a position of authority or give them an official role within an organization.

例句

The board set up Ms. Okonkwo as the new director of finance.

setup + object + as + role: appointing to a position

The committee will set up a younger member to lead the project team.

同義詞
  • appoint

    more formal; used in official contexts

  • install

    suggests a formal ceremony or induction process

  • name

    informal; simply states the choice of person for a role

反義詞
  • dismiss

    to remove someone from a position

文法句型

setup + object + as + role

setup + object + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive constructions ('be set up as') and often followed by a role or title. The object is the person receiving the position.

常見錯誤

The board set up a new position.
The board created a new position.
💡'set up' here means giving a person a role, not creating the role itself.

8. to bring two people together so that a romantic connection may develop between t

8.動詞及物B2
釋義

to bring two people together so that a romantic connection may develop between them; to act as a matchmaker.

例句

Saira asked her best friend to set her up with someone from the yoga class.

setup + person + with + person: matchmaking pattern

Eve and Darius were set up by their coworkers at the holiday party.

passive: were set up by [matchmaker]

同義詞
  • matchmake

    more deliberate; often used in cultural contexts of arranged introductions

  • fix up

    interchangeable in informal speech

文法句型

setup + person + with + person

用法筆記

The matchmaker is the subject; the two potential partners are the object (one person) and the prepositional object (the other person) linked by 'with'.

常見錯誤

She set up a date for us.
She set us up.
💡The core meaning is about arranging people to meet, not booking an event.

9. to make someone feel happier, more confident, or proud after a period of sadness

9.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make someone feel happier, more confident, or proud after a period of sadness or low spirits.

例句

Winning the student award really set Benjamin up for the rest of the term.

The surprise visit from her old classmates set Élise up and she smiled all evening.

同義詞
  • cheer up

    more general; can be used for brief mood lifts

  • boost

    focuses on confidence or morale rather than happiness

  • elate

    formal and stronger; means to make extremely happy

反義詞

文法句型

setup + object

用法筆記

Often used in the context of a single event or compliment that changes someone's mood. The feeling can be pride, confidence, or general happiness — not necessarily from sadness.

10. to present or describe yourself as a particular type of person, especially one t

10.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to present or describe yourself as a particular type of person, especially one that you want others to believe you are.

例句

Andrés set himself up as an expert in traditional farming methods.

setup + reflexive + as: presenting oneself

The company set itself up as a leader in green technology.

同義詞
  • pose as

    almost always implies false or exaggerated claims

  • present oneself as

    neutral; can be honest or deceptive

  • claim to be

    focuses on verbal assertion rather than overall presentation

文法句型

setup + reflexive pronoun + as + noun

用法筆記

Always used with a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) followed by 'as'. Can describe honest self-promotion or false claims, depending on context.

11. to start or establish an organization, company, institution, or system — bringin

11.動詞及物B2
釋義

to start or establish an organization, company, institution, or system — bringing it into existence for the first time.

例句

Hoa and her partners set up a small coffee shop near the train station.

setup + [business]: founding an enterprise

The charity was set up in 2018 to support children's education in rural areas.

passive: was set up in [year]

同義詞
  • establish

    more formal; suggests permanence and legitimacy

  • found

    formal; focuses on the creation of an institution

  • start

    informal; broader meaning covering any beginning

反義詞

文法句型

setup + organization / institution

用法筆記

Can be distinguished from sense 11 (PLAN) by the result: this sense creates a lasting entity, while sense 11 creates a scheme or plan of action. The object is typically an organization, business, program, or system.

常見錯誤

They set up a new computer.
They set up a new company.
💡For machines/devices, use 'set up' as sense 5 (ADJUST/CONFIGURE), not this sense.

12. to plan or arrange something in careful detail beforehand, often in a way that i

12.動詞及物B2
釋義

to plan or arrange something in careful detail beforehand, often in a way that influences the outcome.

例句

The whole event was set up to look like a spontaneous celebration.

passive: be set up to-infinitive, suggesting careful pre-planning

Obi set up a meeting between the two departments to resolve the dispute.

同義詞
  • prearrange

    formal; emphasizes that things were decided before the event

  • orchestrate

    suggests invisible control and coordination

  • rig

    negative connotation; implies dishonest manipulation

反義詞
  • improvise

    to do things without advance preparation

文法句型

setup + object (plan / scheme)

be set up + to-infinitive

用法筆記

When used without an object ('everything is set up for tomorrow'), this sense overlaps with more general preparation senses (see verb_b4 senses). The key distinction: this sense emphasizes advance planning and design of a scenario or scheme.

13. to trick someone into appearing guilty of a crime or wrongdoing, often by placin

13.動詞及物B2
釋義

to trick someone into appearing guilty of a crime or wrongdoing, often by placing false evidence or arranging a deceptive situation.

例句

Diego claimed his business partner had set him up to take the blame for the missing money.

The police discovered that someone had set up the suspect by putting stolen goods in his car.

passive or active: set + person + up + by + [method]

同義詞
  • frame

    more direct and common in crime contexts; no preposition needed

  • entrap

    formal, used mainly in legal contexts

  • incriminate falsely

    clinical register; less common in everyday speech

反義詞

文法句型

set + object + up

be set up (passive)

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice (be set up) when the focus is on the victim. The object must be a person; the means of deception is introduced with by or for.

常見錯誤

The thief set up a plan to steal the car.
The thief set up an innocent man to take the blame for the theft.
💡set up in this sense targets a person, not a plan or object.
She set up the computer to look like she had hacked it.
She set herself up to look like the hacker by leaving fake clues.
💡when used reflexively, 'set up' can mean deliberately creating a false impression about yourself.

14. to give someone the money, property, or practical resources they need to live in

14.動詞及物C1
釋義

to give someone the money, property, or practical resources they need to live independently or begin a new stage of life.

例句

Nala's uncle set her up in a small apartment near the university so she could focus on her studies.

set + person + up + in + [place]

After the fire destroyed their home, the community raised money to set the family up in a new place.

同義詞
  • establish

    more formal; can be used for both people and organizations

  • finance

    focuses specifically on providing money

  • endow

    formal; implies long-term financial support, usually from a fund

文法句型

set + object + up + with/in/as

用法筆記

The preposition following up (with / in / as) signals the type of provision: with introduces resources, in introduces a location, as introduces a role or position.

15. to help someone regain their physical strength or mental well-being after illnes

15.動詞及物C1
釋義

to help someone regain their physical strength or mental well-being after illness, injury, or exhaustion.

例句

A week of rest and good food set Diego up after his long battle with the flu.

The mountain air and daily walks set Eli up better than any medicine could have.

set + person + up (no object separator)

同義詞
  • revive

    suggests bringing back from near-collapse

  • restore

    broader; can apply to health, order, or confidence

  • rehabilitate

    formal; implies a structured program of recovery

反義詞
  • weaken

    to make someone less strong or healthy

文法句型

set + object + up

set + object + up + with/in

用法筆記

Close in meaning to sense 9 (CHEER UP), which focuses on emotional mood. This sense focuses on physical or overall health recovery. The subject is often rest, treatment, or care, not a person.

常見錯誤

The doctor set up my broken leg.
The doctor set me up with physical therapy after my broken leg.
💡this sense does not mean 'repair' or 'treat medically'; it means 'restore through supportive care.'

16. to make someone develop a strong, well-shaped body through regular physical trai

16.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make someone develop a strong, well-shaped body through regular physical training or military drill.

例句

The army sergeant set the new recruits up with daily runs and weight sessions.

set + person + up + with + [training routine]

Three months of boot camp set Sven up with a lean, muscular frame he had never had before.

同義詞

文法句型

set + object + up + with + [exercise]

set + object + up as + [athlete/soldier]

用法筆記

Subject is typically a training programme, drill instructor, or coach. The object is a person, and the result is a physically fit appearance. Distinguish from sense 15 (RESTORE HEALTH), which addresses recovery rather than fitness-building.

17. in team sports, to position players or run planned moves in order to create a ch

17.動詞及物B2
釋義

in team sports, to position players or run planned moves in order to create a chance to score points.

例句

The quarterback set up a quick pass to the wide receiver to gain the winning yards.

Sofia set up the final shot by passing the ball to her teammate near the basket.

set up + [play / shot / pass] as object

同義詞
  • arrange

    more general; lacks the sports-play specificity

  • orchestrate

    suggests careful coordination of multiple players

文法句型

set up + [play / pass / shot]

set + object + up

用法筆記

The object is a plan or play, not a person. To express that a player enables a teammate to score, use sense 17 of the phrasal verb 'set up' (not covered here).

常見錯誤

He set up his teammate for a goal.' (correct in some contexts, but the sports-play sense specifically refers to planning plays, not assisting)
The coach set up a play that freed the striker to shoot.

18. in technical drawing or geometry, to draw a straight line or geometric shape tha

18.動詞及物C2
釋義

in technical drawing or geometry, to draw a straight line or geometric shape that rises from a given base line at a fixed angle.

例句

To begin the diagram, Harper set up a vertical line from the midpoint of the base.

The architect showed the students how to set up a perpendicular from the given baseline using only a compass.

set up + [geometric figure] + from + [baseline]

同義詞
  • erect

    formal; used in geometry for drawing a perpendicular

  • construct

    broader; used in both geometry and model-building

文法句型

set up + [line / figure / perpendicular] + on + [base]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively found in geometry textbooks and technical drawing instructions. The object is always a line or geometric figure (perpendicular, triangle, rectangle), never a person or machine.

19. to pull a rope, cable, strap, or similar object until it is straight, tight, and

19.動詞及物C1
釋義

to pull a rope, cable, strap, or similar object until it is straight, tight, and has no looseness.

例句

Theo set up the slack line between the two trees until it was firm.

set up + line/rope (make tight)

Before the storm hit, the crew set up every rigging line on the boat.

同義詞
  • tighten

    more general; can apply to screws, bolts, or fabrics

  • stretch

    focuses on pulling to full length rather than removing slack

反義詞

文法句型

set up + object (rope, cable, line)

set up + noun phrase + until/before + clause

用法筆記

Common in nautical, camping, and outdoor contexts. The object is always a flexible line or strap that can be tightened.

常見錯誤

Theo set up the nail on the wall.
Theo set up the rope on the wall.
💡This sense only applies to things that can be tightened, not rigid objects.

20. to pay for food, drinks, or entertainment for another person or a group as a gen

20.動詞及物B2
釋義

to pay for food, drinks, or entertainment for another person or a group as a generous or celebratory act.

例句

After the big sale closed, Kevin set up the whole team for a dinner downtown.

set up + someone + for + something (treat)

Dario set up the bar for everyone who stayed late to help clean up.

同義詞
  • treat

    more general; can apply to any kind of hospitality

  • buy

    simpler and more direct; less social nuance

文法句型

set up + object (drinks, meal)

set up + someone

set up + someone + for + something

用法筆記

Informal and often used in bar, restaurant, or social settings. The person paying is usually celebrating an achievement or showing generosity.

21. to prepare a room, area, or outdoor space for an event or activity by placing ch

21.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to prepare a room, area, or outdoor space for an event or activity by placing chairs, tables, equipment, and other items in their correct positions.

例句

The volunteers set up the hall for the charity dinner with long tables and flowers.

set up + space + for + event

Beatriz set up the meeting room with a screen, a projector, and name cards.

同義詞
  • arrange

    general; no specific connection to an event or activity

  • prepare

    broader; can include non-spatial preparation

反義詞
  • clear

    opposite action of removing items from a space

  • dismantle

    taking apart what was set up

文法句型

set up + object (room, stage, hall)

set up + for + event (intransitive)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 5 (ADJUST MACHINE), which focuses on configuring a device. This sense focuses on arranging furniture, decorations, or spatial elements for an event.

22. to start a business, shop, professional practice, or other operation, often afte

22.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to start a business, shop, professional practice, or other operation, often after completing necessary training or preparation.

例句

After five years of training, Gabriela set up as a dentist in a coastal town.

set up + as + profession

Hiro set up in business as a wedding photographer last spring.

同義詞
  • establish

    more formal; can apply to large organizations

  • start

    simpler and more common; general

  • open

    specifically for a shop or restaurant

反義詞

文法句型

set up + as + profession

set up + in + business/field

set up + on one's own

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 11 (FOUND OR INAUGURATE), which focuses on creating an institution or organization. Sense 22 focuses on an individual starting a professional practice or trade.

23. to claim or behave as though one has a particular skill, quality, or social posi

23.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to claim or behave as though one has a particular skill, quality, or social position, often when this claim is exaggerated or unwarranted.

例句

Jude set up as a financial expert, though he had never managed his own savings.

set up + as + noun phrase (pretend to be)

A man set up for a nobleman and tricked the villagers into giving him money.

同義詞
  • pretend

    broader; can apply to any false claim of fact

  • pose as

    suggests deliberate deception rather than mere pretension

文法句型

set up + as + noun phrase

set up + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often carries a negative or skeptical tone, implying the claim is exaggerated. Distinguish from sense 10 (PRESENT ONESELF AS), which is neutral and describes how someone genuinely presents their identity.

24. to become firm, solid, or rigid through cooling, drying, or a chemical process s

24.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to become firm, solid, or rigid through cooling, drying, or a chemical process such as setting.

例句

The concrete set up within a few hours after being poured into the mould.

intransitive: set up (become solid)

The gelatin dessert set up overnight in the refrigerator.

同義詞
  • harden

    broader; can apply to any substance becoming harder

  • set

    shorter, more common form of the same meaning

反義詞
  • melt

    to change from solid to liquid

  • soften

    to become less firm

文法句型

set up (no object)

set up + in/within + time period

用法筆記

Common in materials science, cooking, and craft contexts. The subject is always a substance that undergoes a phase change from liquid or semi-liquid to solid.

常見錯誤

The ice set up in the freezer.
The water froze in the freezer.
💡'set up' for becoming solid applies to materials that cure or set (concrete, gelatin, glue, wax), not to freezing water.

setup — noun