set [2] (sets plural & 3rd person present) (setting present participle ) (VERB AND ADJECTIVE USES)
The form set is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb., Please look at category 25 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 verb If you set something somewhere, you put it there, especially in a careful or deliberate way.
(=put, place)
He took the case out of her hand and set it on the floor... V n prep
When he set his glass down he spilled a little drink. V n with adv
2 adj If something is set in a particular place or position, it is in that place or position.
v-link ADJ prep/adv
(=situated)
The castle is set in 25 acres of beautiful grounds...
3 adj If something is setinto a surface, it is fixed there and does not stick out.
v-link ADJ prep/adv
The man unlocked a gate set in a high wall and let me through...
4 verb You can use set to say that a person or thing causes another person or thing to be in a particular condition or situation. For example, to set someone free means to cause them to be free, and to set something going means to cause it to start working.
Set the kitchen timer going... V n -ing
A phrase from the conference floor set my mind wandering... V n -ing
Dozens of people have been injured and many vehicles set on fire... be V-ed adj/adv
Churchill immediately set into motion a daring plan. V n with prep
5 verb When you set a clock or control, you adjust it to a particular point or level.
Set the volume as high as possible... V n adv/prep
I forgot to set my alarm and I overslept. V n
6 verb If you set a date, price, goal, or level, you decide what it will be.
The conference chairman has set a deadline of noon tomorrow... V n
A date will be set for a future meeting... V n
7 verb If you set a certain value on something, you think it has that value.
She sets a high value on autonomy... V n on n/-ing
8 verb If you set something such as a record, an example, or a precedent, you do something that people will want to copy or try to achieve.
Legal experts said her case would not set a precedent because it was an out-of-court settlement... V n
A new world marathon record of 2 hrs, 8 min, 5 sec, was set by Stephen Jones of Great Britain... V n
9 verb If someone sets you a task or aim or if you setyourself a task or aim, you need to succeed in doing it.
I have to plan my academic work very rigidly and set myself clear objectives... V n n
10 verb To set an examination or a question paper means to decide what questions will be asked in it.
(BRIT)
He broke with the tradition of setting examinations in Latin. V n
in AM, usually use make up
11 adj You use set to describe something which is fixed and cannot be changed.
usu ADJ n
Investors can apply for a package of shares at a set price...
12 adj A set book must be studied by students taking a particular course.
(BRIT) ADJ n
One of the set books is Jane Austen's Emma.
in AM, use required
13 adj If a play, film, or story is set in a particular place or period of time, the events in it take place in that place or period.
v-link ADJ prep/adv
The play is set in a small Midwestern town.
14 adj If you are setto do something, you are ready to do it or are likely to do it. If something is setto happen, it is about to happen or likely to happen.
v-link ADJ to-inf
Roberto Baggio was set to become one of the greatest players of all time...
15 adj If you are set on something, you are strongly determined to do or have it. If you are set against something, you are strongly determined not to do or have it.
v-link ADJ on/against n/-ing
She was set on going to an all-girls school...
16 verb If you set your face or jaw, you put on a fixed expression of determination.
Instead, she set her jaw grimly and waited in silence... V n
17 verb When something such as jelly, melted plastic, or cement sets, it becomes firm or hard.
You can add ingredients to these desserts as they begin to set... V
18 verb When the sun sets, it goes below the horizon.
They watched the sun set behind the distant dales. V
...the red glow of the setting sun. V-ing
19 verb To set a trap means to prepare it to catch someone or something.
He seemed to think I was setting some sort of trap for him... V n for n
20 verb When someone sets the table, they prepare it for a meal by putting plates and cutlery on it.
(=lay)
21 verb If someone sets a poem or a piece of writing to music, they write music for the words to be sung to.
He has attracted much interest by setting ancient religious texts to music. V n to n
23 If someone sets the scene or sets the stagefor an event to take place, they make preparations so that it can take place.
set the scene/stage for phrase V inflects
The Democrat convention has set the scene for a ferocious election campaign this autumn...
24 If you say that someone is set in their ways, you are being critical of the fact that they have fixed habits and ideas which they will not easily change, even though they may be old-fashioned.
be set in one's ways phrase V inflects (disapproval)
25
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to set eyes on something
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eye
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to set fire to something
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fire
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to set foot somewhere
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foot
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to set your heart on something
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heart
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to set sail
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sail
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to set great store by or on something
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store
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to set to work
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work set against
1 phrasal verb If one argument or fact is set against another, it is considered in relation to it.
These are relatively small points when set against her expertise on so many other issues... be V-ed P n, Also V n P n
2 phrasal verb To set one person against another means to cause them to become enemies or rivals.
The case has set neighbour against neighbour in the village. V n P n set apart phrasal verb If a characteristic sets you apartfrom other people, it makes you different from the others in a noticeable way.
What sets it apart from hundreds of similar small French towns is the huge factory... V n P from n
Li blends right into the crowd of teenagers. Only his accent sets him apart. V n P set aside
1 phrasal verb If you set something asidefor a special use or purpose, you keep it available for that use or purpose.
Some doctors advise setting aside a certain hour each day for worry... V P n (not pron)
£130 million would be set aside for repairs to schools. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you set aside a belief, principle, or feeling, you decide that you will not be influenced by it.
He urged them to set aside minor differences for the sake of peace. V P n (not pron) set back
1 phrasal verb If something sets you back or sets back a project or scheme, it causes a delay.
It has set us back in so many respects that I'm not sure how long it will take for us to catch up... V n P
There will be a risk of public protest that could set back reforms. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If something sets you back a certain amount of money, it costs you that much money.
INFORMAL In 1981 dinner for two in New York would set you back £5. V n P amount
1 phrasal verb If a committee or organization sets down rules for doing something, it decides what they should be and officially records them.
(=lay down)
The Convention set down rules for deciding which country should deal with an asylum request. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you set down your thoughts or experiences, you write them all down.
(=write down)
Old Walter is setting down his memories of village life. V P n (not pron) set forth phrasal verb If you set forth a number of facts, beliefs, or arguments, you explain them in writing or speech in a clear, organized way.
FORMAL
(=set out)
Dr. Mesibov set forth the basis of his approach to teaching students. V P n (not pron) set in phrasal verb If something unpleasant sets in, it begins and seems likely to continue or develop.
Then disappointment sets in as they see the magic is no longer there... V P
Winter is setting in and the population is facing food and fuel shortages. V P set off
1 phrasal verb When you set off, you start a journey.
(=set out)
Nichols set off for his remote farmhouse in Connecticut... V P prep/adv
I set off, full of optimism. V P
2 phrasal verb If something sets off something such as an alarm or a bomb, it makes it start working so that, for example, the alarm rings or the bomb explodes.
Any escape, once it's detected, sets off the alarm... V P n (not pron)
It could take months before evidence emerges on how the bomb was made, and who set it off. V n P
3 phrasal verb If something sets off an event or a series of events, it causes it to start happening.
The arrival of the charity van set off a minor riot as villagers scrambled for a share of the aid... V P n (not pron) set on phrasal verb To set animals on someone means to cause the animals to attack them.
They brought the young men in and set the dogs on them. V n P n set out
1 phrasal verb When you set out, you start a journey.
(=set off)
When setting out on a long walk, always wear suitable boots. V P prep/adv
2 phrasal verb If you set outto do something, you start trying to do it.
He has achieved what he set out to do three years ago... V P to-inf
3 phrasal verb If you set things out, you arrange or display them somewhere.
(=arrange)
Set out the cakes attractively, using lacy doilies. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
4 phrasal verb If you set out a number of facts, beliefs, or arguments, you explain them in writing or speech in a clear, organized way.
He has written a letter to The Times setting out his views... V P n (not pron), Also V n P set up
1 phrasal verb If you set something up, you create or arrange it.
The two sides agreed to set up a commission to investigate claims... V P n (not pron)
Tell us when and why you started your business and how you went about setting it up. V n P
setting up n-uncount usu N of n
The British government announced the setting up of a special fund.
2 phrasal verb If you set up a temporary structure, you place it or build it somewhere.
They took to the streets, setting up roadblocks of burning tyres... V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 phrasal verb If you set up a device or piece of machinery, you do the things that are necessary for it to be able to start working.
I set up the computer so that they could work from home. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
4 phrasal verb If you set up somewhere or setyourselfup somewhere, you establish yourself in a new business or new area.
The mayor's scheme offers incentives to firms setting up in lower Manhattan... V P prep/adv
He worked as a dance instructor in London before setting himself up in Bucharest... V pron-refl P prep/adv
Grandfather set them up in a liquor business. V n P prep/adv
5 phrasal verb If you set up home or set up shop, you buy a house or business of your own and start living or working there.
They married, and set up home in Ramsgate. V P n
6 phrasal verb If something sets up something such as a process, it creates it or causes it to begin.
The secondary current sets up a magnetic field inside the tube... V P n (not pron), Also V n P
7 phrasal verb If you are set up by someone, they make it seem that you have done something wrong when you have not.
INFORMAL He claimed he had been set up after drugs were discovered at his home... be V-ed P
Maybe Angelo tried to set us up. V n P
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set-up set upon phrasal verb If you are set upon by people, they make a sudden and unexpected physical attack on you.
usu passive
We were set upon by about twelve youths and I was kicked unconscious. be V-ed P
