Meanings
present singular third person sets the table · participle present setting the table
- figurativelyTo make a future outcome possible.
In a very real sense, PC technology set the table for the prosperity of the nineties.
2008, B. A. Marbue Brown, The Clinton Economic Boom, page 1071 more example
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 close
2009, Thomas G. Segrich, The $32M Sales System for Design & Build Home Remodelers and Kitchen & Bath ProfessionalsSynonyms: set the stage, pave the way
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo make a future outcome possible.
Translations
Catalan parar
- parararrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Chinese Mandarin 擺桌子 /摆桌子, 鋪路 /铺路
- 擺桌子 /摆桌子 (bǎi zhuōzi)arrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- 鋪路 /铺路 (pūlù)make a future outcome possible
- 奠定基礎 /奠定基础 (diàndìng jīchǔ)make a future outcome possible
Danish dække bord
- dække bordarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Dutch de tafel dekken
- de tafel dekkenarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Finnish kattaa pöytä, pohjustaa
- kattaa pöytäarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- pohjustaamake a future outcome possible
French mettre la table, mettre le couvert
- mettre la tablearrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- mettre le couvertarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- dresser la tablearrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- dresser le couvertarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
German den Tisch decken
- den Tisch deckenarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Hungarian megterít, (asztalt) terít
- megterítarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- (asztalt) terítarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Irish leag an bord
- leag an bordarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Italian apparecchiare, apparecchiare la tavola
- apparecchiarearrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- apparecchiare la tavolaarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Lithuanian padengti stalą
- padengti staląarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Polish nakrywać do stołu, nakryć do stołu
- nakrywać do stołuarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- nakryć do stołuarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
- kłaść podwalinymake a future outcome possible
- położyć podwalinymake a future outcome possible
Russian накры́ть стол
- накры́ть стол (nakrýtʹ stol)arrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Slovak prestrieť stôl
- prestrieť stôlarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Spanish tender / vestir / preparar / poner la mesa
- tender / vestir / preparar / poner la mesaarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Swahili tandika meza
- tandika mezaarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Swedish duka
- dukaarrange plates, dishes, etc. in preparation for a meal
Cite this entry
set the table. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20table
“set the table.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20table. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set the table,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20table.
Source: set the table on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.