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

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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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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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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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9
as in putting
to arrange something in a certain spot or position set a book on the table

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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
Trailing the 2010s trilogy by long enough that a genuine pandemic happened in the interim, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stays within the continuity of those movies while introducing new characters and a further-future setting. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 SonicMax notes that for typical start-stop cutting scenarios, the tool is estimated to provide 2 to 4 hours of use per charge depending on the material and power setting. — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
One stage keeps the music moving forward, while the Iowa setting gives people a reason to stay put long enough to notice everything happening around it. — Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Authorities in Napa County have charged a man for allegedly setting the 2025 Pickett Fire near Calistoga, which burned thousands of acres of Wine Country and ruined grape harvests because of the smoke. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 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. aiming
  8. deciding
Noun
  • Survey methods include live capture, audio recordings and sampling their genetic material from the environment.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • From skin tones to outfit styles,families can personalize the companion in a way that feels more emotionally connected to their home environment.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of environment
Noun
  • There’s no denying that the fall 2026 runways made a strong case for color; even the street style scene is on board, slipping into colorful shoes and sporting handbags in a variety of vibrant shades—baby pink, chartreuse, and cobalt.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Fort Worth Fire Department provided medical aid, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of scene
Verb
  • Fly’s brand of rap, defined by spare, steely 808 beats and club shoutouts, was wildly popular, spawning nearly 50 mixtape volumes and many more songs since.
    — Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This mystery has tantalized scientists since Charles Darwin mused on it in 1871, spawning no shortage of competing theories about the origins of Earth’s biology around four billion years ago.
    — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of spawning
Verb
  • By choosing a highly machinable material and bonding it, Flit achieves a frame that as light and structurally sound as titanium, but at a fraction of the production complexity – and cost.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The clearest sign of the change came in 2024, when a study recorded Americans choosing cannabis over alcohol for daily consumption, marking the first time in history that cannabis has overtaken alcohol as the preferred daily substance.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • Under a local payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, SpaceX will make a $20 million upfront payment and at least $25 million annually for 25 years, with the state estimating more than $820 million in direct local payments under the agreement.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The estimating work was performed over just three days and autonomously, meaning ground operators did not participate.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of estimating
Verb
  • Amid a scorching stretch, Bregman ends the month with his lifetime total now sitting at two.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • While sitting next to her at Sant Ambroeus in New York, Twine is as light and calm as ever, despite experiencing such pivotal life accomplishments in such quick succession.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sitting
Verb
  • Manchester City are looking to wrap up their move for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, while Tottenham Hotspur are aiming to bring in Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, with Richarlison heading in the other direction.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The German team reached the second group stage on that occasion and will be aiming for a medal this time, though the absence of star player Satou Sabally is a major blow.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of aiming
Verb
  • Even highly mature enterprise SOCs frequently remain dependent on humans assembling information from multiple systems, determining whether something is malicious and deciding what should happen next.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Car shoppers weigh several factors before deciding on a vehicle.
    — McKynzie Steward, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deciding

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 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on setting

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about setting

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