set up

verb

1. set up or found; “She set up a literacy program”

   Synonyms

   • establish, found, launch

   Antonym

   • abolish, get rid of

   Less specific

   • open, open up

2. create by putting components or members together; “She pieced a quilt”; “He tacked together some verses”; “They set up a committee”

   Synonyms

   • assemble, piece, put together, tack, tack together

   Antonym

   • disassemble, dismantle, take apart, break up, break apart

   Less specific

   • join, bring together, make, create

   More specific

   • confect, confection, comfit, jumble, confuse, mix up, reassemble, configure, compound, rig up

3. construct, build, or erect; “Raise a barn”

   Synonyms

   • raise, erect, rear, put up

   Antonym

   • level, raze, rase, dismantle, tear down, take down, pull down

   Less specific

   • construct, build, make

4. get ready for a particular purpose or event; “set up an experiment”; “set the table”; “lay out the tools for the surgery”

   Synonyms

   • lay out, set

   Less specific

   • fix, prepare, set up, ready, gear up, set

5. put into a proper or systematic order; “arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order”

   Synonyms

   • arrange

   Antonym

   • disarrange

   Less specific

   • put, set, place, pose, position, lay

   More specific

   • regularize, regularise, order, order, straighten, rearrange, serialize, serialise, alphabetize, alphabetise, organize, organise, coordinate, stratify, string (more) , thread, draw, marshal, string, string out, spread out, preen, plume, stack, chain, pair, geminate, concord, cascade, settle, pyramid, corral, catenate, catenulate, dress, decorate, range, array, lay out, set out, pack, bundle, wad, compact, stack, pile, heap, stagger, distribute, drape, drape, set, gradate, line up

6. begin, or enable someone else to begin, a venture by providing the means, logistics, etc.; “set up an election”

   Less specific

   • organize, organise, prepare, devise, get up, machinate

7. take or catch as if in a snare or trap; “I was set up!”; “The innocent man was framed by the police”

   Synonyms

   • ensnare, entrap, frame

   Less specific

   • deceive, lead on, delude, cozen

8. produce; “The scientists set up a shock wave”

   Synonyms

   • effect, effectuate

   Less specific

   • cause, do, make

   More specific

   • carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfil, draw, get, precipitate, induce, stimulate, rush, hasten, serve

9. set up for use; “install the washer and dryer”; “We put in a new sink”

   Synonyms

   • install, instal, put in

   Less specific

   • put, set, place, pose, position, lay

   More specific

   • retrofit, reinstall, post, put up

10. place; “Her manager had set her up at the Ritz”

    Synonyms

    • install, instal, establish

11. arrange the outcome of by means of deceit; “rig an election”

    Synonyms

    • rig

    Less specific

    • cheat, chisel

12. erect and fasten; “pitch a tent”

    Synonyms

    • pitch

    Less specific

    • rear, erect

    More specific

    • camp, camp down

13. arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events; “arrange my schedule”; “set up one’s life”; “I put these memories with those of bygone times”

    Synonyms

    • arrange, put, order

    Less specific

    • organize, organise

    More specific

    • synchronize, synchronise, contemporize, contemporise, phrase

14. equip with sails or masts; “rig a ship”

    Synonyms

    • rig, set

    Less specific

    • equip, fit, fit out, outfit

15. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc; “Get the children ready for school!”; “prepare for war”; “I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill”

    Synonyms

    • fix, prepare, ready, gear up, set

    Less specific

    • change, alter, modify

    More specific

    • socialize, socialise, provide, cram, precondition, fix, mount, set up, lay out, set, winterize, winterise, summerize, summerise, prime (more) , cultivate, crop, work, brace, poise