setting 1 of 2

noun

ˈse-tiŋ How to pronounce setting (audio)
Definition of settingnext
1
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded the novice camper felt lost outside of his familiar urban setting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in scene
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the setting for the novel is Victorian England

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setting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of set
1
as in spawning
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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2
as in choosing
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority set a date for the wedding

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3
as in estimating
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding fire losses were set at a million dollars

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4
as in sitting
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in deciding
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of finally set some plans for the luncheon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position had the jeweler set the diamond again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in freezing
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly the gelatin is just starting to set now

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in situating
to arrange something in a certain spot or position set a book on the table

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in hardening
to become physically firm or solid the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word setting distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of setting are background, environment, milieu, and mise-en-scène. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

Where would background be a reasonable alternative to setting?

The meanings of background and setting largely overlap; however, background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

In what contexts can environment take the place of setting?

In some situations, the words environment and setting are roughly equivalent. However, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

When might milieu be a better fit than setting?

Although the words milieu and setting have much in common, milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

When is mise-en-scène a more appropriate choice than setting?

The synonyms mise-en-scène and setting are sometimes interchangeable, but mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of setting
Noun
Han deliberately juxtaposed high-tech elements like holograms against retro settings like Euljiro, a neighborhood known for its nostalgic atmosphere. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025 For teenagers using unsupervised phones, the feature is enabled but can be disabled in the Messages settings. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
Imagine setting yourself up for a lucrative passive income stream that supplements your current income. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 Additionally, senior leadership setting expectations for collaboration when reviewing and approving goals is key. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for setting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting
  1. environment
  2. scene
  3. spawning
  4. choosing
  5. estimating
  6. sitting
  7. deciding
  8. securing
Noun
  • Trees provide numerous benefits to the environment and to health, like filtering out air pollution, storing carbon dioxide and taking water into their root systems to reduce flooding.
    — Madeline Heim, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • India’s natural environment still has a fighting chance, if only more people pay attention to the local knowledge brimming in this book.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of environment
Noun
  • Read is accused of striking O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV during a drunken argument and then leaving the scene, where he was found dead with signs of severe head trauma and hypothermia the next morning.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Detectives with the department, along with the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad, spent much of the afternoon and evening hours at the scene — which is about ¼ mile away from the Colonel Ledyard Cemetery on Mitchell Street where police found human remains on March 19.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of scene
Verb
  • While she's become a pop culture phenomenon, spawning numerous parodies from Saturday Night Live, Ariana Grande and TikTok users online, Nara finds her own inspiration closer to home.
    — Athena Sobhan, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
  • That film was a box office hit, earning $136 million at the global box office and spawning four sequels.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of spawning
Verb
  • After leafing through the hefty menu I am beset by option paralysis, eventually ignoring drinks called ‘Corpse Reviver’ and ‘Balls’, instead choosing ‘Leave For Milan’, which includes gin, vermouth and some sort of rhubarb foam.
    — Nick Miller, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Fans also speculate that the narrative that Grant was so close to choosing Litia may have affected his current relationship with Juliana.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • Potentially more than 46,000 vehicles could require the fix, Tesla said, while conservatively estimating that only 1 percent of cars are likely defective.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The dolphin deaths that are happening on the beaches are making this event even more tragic, Warner said, estimating that by the start of this week, more than 50 dolphins just in Los Angeles County had died.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • The Rockets came into Christmas Eve riding a three-game winning streak, now sitting at 20-9 and up to second overall in the Western Conference, behind just the Oklahoma City Thunder.
    — Rahat Huq, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Coach Doc River played the role of Secret Santa by sitting the Bucks’ two biggest stars — Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was dealing with back spasms, and Damian Lillard, who was out with a non-COVID-19 illness.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of sitting
Verb
  • With so many cruise lines and many more ships, deciding which cruise to book for your family’s next vacation can feel daunting.
    — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
  • There are several considerations when deciding where to live and retire.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of deciding
Verb
  • More attention to be applied to Zero Trust risk management strategies, from vulnerability assessments and securing code from production throughout the life cycle.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The team's ability to participate in further races beyond Daytona heavily depends on securing adequate funding.
    — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of securing

Browse Nearby Words

settees
setting
setting about
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Cite this Entry

“Setting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on setting

Nglish: Translation of setting for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about setting

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