set-up
set-up — phrasal verb
1. to start a company, organization, committee, system, or similar entity so that i
to start a company, organization, committee, system, or similar entity so that it begins to operate.
Putri and her partner set up a small design studio in their garage.
collocation: set up [company/studio/business]
The school set up a committee to look into ways of reducing waste.
Emma set up a support group for parents of children with allergies.
A new system for booking appointments was set up across all clinics.
The alumni set up a fund to help students pay for textbooks and travel.
文法句型
set + up + noun phrase
set + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of 'set up'. The object is typically an organization, system, or service — not a physical object (see senses 2 and 3 for physical items).
常見錯誤
2. to build a structure by putting its parts together in the correct place.
to build a structure by putting its parts together in the correct place.
Christopher spent the morning setting up a large tent in the garden.
collocation: set up [tent/shelter/structure]
The workers set up scaffolding around the front of the old library.
Xiu and her brother set up a lemonade stand outside their house.
A stage was set up in the park for the summer concert series.
The children set up a small campsite with blankets and chairs.
文法句型
set + up + noun phrase
set + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about physical, tangible structures (tents, stages, scaffolding, stands). Sense 1 is about abstract entities (companies, committees, systems).
常見錯誤
❌ 'We set the tent up in ten minutes.' (This is actually correct.) No common error pattern for this sense beyond separating the phrasal verb correctly.
3. to get a device or machine ready so that you can start using it, by connecting c
to get a device or machine ready so that you can start using it, by connecting cables, installing software, or adjusting settings.
Amelia set up her new laptop and transferred all her files from the old one.
collocation: set up [device/equipment]
The technician set up the projector and tested the sound before the talk.
Ife set up the Wi-Fi router for the whole flat in under an hour.
Manuela showed her grandmother how to set up the new television step by step.
Before the meeting, the AV team set up cameras and microphones in the room.
文法句型
set + up + noun phrase
set + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about building physical structures from parts (tents, stages). Sense 3 is about preparing equipment for use — often involves connections, power, and settings rather than construction.
常見錯誤
4. to begin operating your own company or commercial venture
to begin operating your own company or commercial venture
After years of working for others, Tamar decided to set up her own bakery.
set up + own business / company / shop
Felipe and his cousin set up a small repair shop in the town market.
The two friends set up an online store selling handmade furniture.
Chidi saved money for five years before setting up his restaurant.
The government offers low-interest loans to help young people set up businesses.
- close down
to stop operating a business permanently
- shut down
informal; to close a business, often due to financial difficulty
文法句型
set up + business/company/shop
set up in business (intransitive)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or group who becomes the owner or operator. The object can be omitted in informal use: 'She set up in business as a consultant.'
常見錯誤
5. to deliberately make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing, often by pl
to deliberately make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing, often by planting false evidence or lying to the authorities.
The police discovered someone had set Zayd up by putting stolen goods in his car.
passive: had set somebody up for a crime
Noa felt her colleague set her up to take the blame for missing money.
The gang tried to set him up for a robbery he knew nothing about.
In the movie, the hero is set up by his partner and sent to prison.
Mizuki realised the email was a trap — someone was trying to set her up.
- clear
to prove someone is not guilty
文法句型
set + somebody + up
set + somebody + up + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in crime contexts and informal conversation. The noun form 'set-up' (hyphenated) also exists: 'It was a set-up!'
常見錯誤
6. to plan and make all the necessary arrangements for a meeting, event, or appoint
to plan and make all the necessary arrangements for a meeting, event, or appointment to take place
Layla set up an interview with the marketing director for next Tuesday morning.
set up + appointment / interview / meeting
The school set up a meeting between the teachers and the parents to discuss the new rules.
Hoa asked her assistant to set up a video call with the Tokyo office at 3 p.m.
Before the conference, Jin had to set up all the travel bookings for the guest speakers.
The committee set up a second round of interviews for the final candidates.
- cancel
to decide that the planned event will not happen
文法句型
set up + object (meeting/appointment/interview)
用法筆記
Object is typically a meeting, appointment, interview, or similar planned event. This sense does not overlap with 'set up' for assembling equipment.
常見錯誤
7. to give someone the money or resources they need to start a business, a project,
to give someone the money or resources they need to start a business, a project, or a new stage of life.
After university, Wren's uncle set her up with enough money to open a café.
collocation: set somebody up with [resources]
The government programme sets up young farmers with free tools and land.
After years of saving, Arjun set his brother up in a furniture store in Mumbai.
The charity sets up homeless families by paying their first year of rent.
文法句型
set + somebody + up
set + somebody + up + with + something
set + somebody + up + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'in' or 'with' to specify what the person receives.
常見錯誤
8. to make someone healthy, strong, or full of energy again, especially after an il
to make someone healthy, strong, or full of energy again, especially after an illness or a period of tiredness.
A week of rest and home-cooked food really set Élise up after the flu.
collocation: set somebody up after [illness]
The doctor said a daily walk in the fresh air would set her up nicely.
That hot bowl of soup for lunch set me up for the whole afternoon.
Grandpa says a cold shower every morning sets him up for the day.
- revive
more dramatic; brings someone back from exhaustion or unconsciousness
- strengthen
focuses on becoming physically stronger rather than recovering energy
文法句型
set + somebody + up
用法筆記
Common in British English, especially in the pattern "set somebody up for [a period of time]". Often used in the context of food, rest, or exercise restoring energy.
常見錯誤
9. to cause a particular process or series of events to begin, leading to further d
to cause a particular process or series of events to begin, leading to further developments
The new policy set up a chain of improvements across the entire factory.
set up + chain / sequence / series [of events]
Reuben's careless comment set up an argument that lasted the whole evening.
A small mistake in the design set up a series of delays in the construction project.
The court's decision set up a process that changed how similar cases were handled.
文法句型
set up + noun phrase (a chain / a process / a series)
用法筆記
Often followed by 'a chain / series / sequence of' + noun to describe a cascade of events. The subject is usually an action or event, not a person.