Word.ws English Dictionary

setting the table

setting the table is the present participle and gerund of set the table.

Meaning of set the table

Verb

set the table (third-person singular simple present sets the table, present participle setting the table, simple past and past participle set the table)

  1. (literally) To arrange plates, etc. for a meal.
    Synonyms:
    lay the table
    Antonyms:
    clear the table
  2. (figuratively) To make a future outcome possible.
    • The next step is to 'Set the Table' for the sale by stating your agenda. This is both a method of directing the course of the meeting, as well as a trial close2009, Thomas G. Segrich, The $32M Sales System for Design & Build Home Remodelers and Kitchen & Bath Professionals

Questions about setting the table

What is setting the table the present participle and gerund of?
Setting the table is the present participle and gerund of set the table.

Words near setting the table in the dictionary

  1. setting the heather on fire
  2. setting the land
  3. setting the pace
  4. setting the record straight
  5. setting the stage
  6. setting the table
  7. setting the Thames on fire
  8. setting the tone
  9. setting the wheels in motion
  10. setting the world on fire
  11. setting the world to rights

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: setting the table (page history and authors); set the table (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “setting the table.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/setting_the_table. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.