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to set

to set

∞ 3.2
To cause something to start, often with a strong effect
  • verb
  • /sɛt/
: desencadenar
  • And he says this is going to set us on a path.
  • set in motion
  • set fire to
  • set off a series

I'm just going to set my metre to continuity.

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Examples

  • The Mortier decision has set off a flurry of activity on federal and state levels.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Most of our "miracles" of medicine set us up for more expensive health care down the line.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Changing your path can set you free or imprison you.

  • Now Doug shuffled through the mail and set aside the three envelopes addressed to himself.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The new policy will set a standard for future regulations in the industry.

  • He hopes that his success will set an example for others to follow.

  • The coach decided to set the rules before the season started.

Synonyms

to cause
vsto set
∞ 1.0

To make something happen

is narrower, often meaning to begin or apply with strong impact
to set off
vsto set
276 3.1

To cause something to start or happen

is used more for deliberate application that causes marked impact
to effect
vsto set
  • Formal
121 6.1

To cause something to happen

leans toward initiating or applying actions that produce strong impact
to set in motion
vsto set
48 3.5

To make something begin to move or happen

focuses on applying or beginning actions with significant impact
to effectuate
vsto set
  • Formal
5 8.6

To make something happen, for example a plan or change

focuses more on starting or applying actions with notable impact

Antonyms

228 3.9

To stop something officially for a short time

178 2.4

To stop moving or make something stop moving

Idioms

all set
  • Informal
209 1.6

Completely ready to begin

Give the true facts to fix a wrong idea

dead set
  • Informal
18 6.5

Firmly decided to do something or strongly against doing it

set in stone
  • Informal
12 3.9

Not able to be changed

set for life
  • Informal
10 4.2

Enough money to live without working for the rest of your life

9 3.9

Make a high goal for others to reach

dead set on
  • Informal
9 4.8

Want something very much and do not change their mind

dead set against
  • Informal
8 6.8

Being completely against an idea or plan

8 7.1

To have a big success that many people notice

to sun set on
  • Informal
8 6.8

To show that a time or relationship has ended

Start a series of actions that lead to later changes

to grow a set
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To become more brave and confident when facing problems

1 6.0

To make someone feel very excited, often suddenly

1 7.2

Not willing to change habits or the way they do things

To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive

9.6

To make people argue or fight

To step onto solid ground after being on a boat or in a plane

9.9

To try to get someone to marry you

To arrive so regularly that people can tell the time by your arrival

To begin working very hard and not give up on a difficult task

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 2.7

To assemble and prepare equipment or objects so they are ready to use

873 3.4

To make something begin, for example a business

343 6.2

To trick someone so they appear guilty by using false evidence

276 3.1

To cause something to start or happen

226 2.7

To let a person or animal go after keeping them in a place where they could not leave

161 3.2

To start doing something with a clear aim

145 3.0

Make something start burning

118 3.4

To happen in a particular time and place, often for stories and films

105 3.2

To go into a place, often for the first time

95 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

88 5.4

To begin and then continue, often about bad things like rain or worry

83 3.4

Save money or time for a special purpose

69 3.9

Temporarily stop a rule or policy from being used

65 2.4

To begin a journey to go to another place

60 3.9

To keep something separate for a special use or to show it as different

53 4.2

To cause a delay and slow progress

53 2.4

To begin a journey toward a place

51 3.2

To arrange objects or information in a clear organized way

Prepare conditions that make an event or change likely

To make something begin to move or happen

Create a mood at the start of an event

to set forth
  • Formal
36 4.2

To state something clearly in writing or speech

30 2.9

To start a journey by boat or ship

24 3.4

To start doing something in a determined way

18 3.8

To write words or information so they are recorded

14 3.6

To land on the ground or another surface

to set back
  • Informal
13 5.8

To cost someone a lot of money

to set the mood
  • Informal
12 3.7

To make a place feel a certain way with lights, music, or decorations

to set on
  • Offensive
11 5.8

To attack someone physically or with mean words

10 4.8

To make something start burning

To begin working right away with energy

8 3.9

To begin a journey to a place

Make the speed or level that others follow

8 6.9

To attack someone suddenly from several sides

7 4.1

Make something start to burn

7 3.7

To make something stand out against its background

6 4.2

To correct a wrong idea or explain what really happened

Make your phone or clock ring at a chosen time to wake you

Write music for a poem or other words so they can be sung

To start a set of events where each event makes the next happen

to set aside
  • Formal
4 7.6

Cancel a court decision so it is no longer valid

To make something start burning

3 4.2

To make something start burning

Decide on a clear goal to reach

2 3.9

To correct a wrong idea and make things clear

to set phaser
  • Jargon
2 9.9

To adjust a phaser to a chosen power or mode before use

to set store by
  • Archaic
2 7.9

To think something is important and worth attention

2 3.2

To move a clock or watch forward to show a later time

To create a mood in a place with light, music, or decorations

To bring people or things from a boat onto land

1 3.2

To take people or goods off a vehicle and leave them at a place

1 4.4

To make up for a problem by adding something good

To choose a date and time for a game

To place people to look for danger and protect others

9.2

To cover a wall with two coats of plaster to make it smooth

To create a relaxed, calm feeling with music or lights

To make a clear line between two areas or kinds of activity

to set a spell
  • Archaic
9.4

To sit and rest for a short time and talk

9.1

To make someone look guilty for something they did not do by tricking other people

8.7

Make a small outdoor shelter to sleep in

to set up a honeypot
  • Specialized
8.1

To create a fake target to attract and find people who attack or steal data

To put temporary barriers on a road to slow or send traffic another way

Compounds

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

46 1.0

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

16 1.0

A frame with seats hanging by chains or ropes for children to swing back and forth

10 1.2

A toy with small trains and tracks to play with

8 1.4

A matching set of cups, saucers, and a teapot used to serve tea

set of wheels
  • Informal
8 5.0

A car or other vehicle someone owns

8 2.5

A board and 32 pieces used to play chess

7 6.8

A group of rich fashionable people who often travel for pleasure

7 5.1

A long planned sequence in a film or game that shows big action

4 2.4

A matching group of furniture for a bedroom like a bed and dresser

4 3.6

The background and objects on a stage that show where and when a play happens

3 6.8

A single item of stage scenery like a painted tree

3 2.1

A matching table with chairs used for eating in a dining room

3 4.9

An eye set far back in the head that makes the eye area look deep and dark

3 6.7

Feeling separate from other people or different from them

radio set
  • Archaic
2 2.3

A machine that receives broadcasts through the air and plays them as sound

2 1.0

A box of small plastic bricks and parts for building models like cars or houses

set theory
  • Specialized
2 7.6

The study of sets, groups of things, and how they relate

2 4.9

Kept in advance for a particular use or person

set decoration
  • Specialized
2 3.7

Objects and items used to make a film or play scene look real

1 2.1

A group of matching furniture for a living room like a sofa and chairs

1 4.4

A moment when a player needs one more point to win the set

1 5.1

Placed very near each other, often for eyes or teeth

character set
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A group of letters, numbers, and symbols used for writing and showing text

1 1.3

A matching set of plates, bowls, and cups for serving dinner

set-to
  • UK
1 8.2

A short argument or small fight that is often noisy

Mandelbrot set
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A set of complex numbers that makes a very detailed, repeating shape when drawn on a graph

smart set
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A group of fashionable people in high society

1 3.7

A group of swing jazz songs played together to make people dance

crystal set
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A simple early radio that uses a crystal to receive signals without a battery

A set of matching furniture for a dining room, usually a table and chairs

train set
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A group of example data used to teach a computer program

1 7.4

A rich, glamorous life with frequent travel to fashionable places

1 3.5

A number of times you repeat one movement without rest

universal set
  • Specialized
1 7.0

All the things we consider in a math problem, including every smaller group

null set
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A set that has no members

1 8.5

People who love horses and take part in riding or racing

1 3.9

A basketball move in which a player stands still and uses both hands to put the ball in the basket

set phrase
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone

smart set
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A group of connected home devices like lights or speakers you control together

receiving set
  • Archaic
1 6.1

A machine like a radio that receives and makes broadcast signals stronger

1 3.7

A group of connected tubes that carry water or gas through a building

A device for making and receiving phone calls

1 2.5

A small group of tools for caring for nails and hands

A computer design using a small set of simple instructions for faster processors that use less power

ASCII character set
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A set of 128 basic computer characters for letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes

1 8.5

A group of people who like horses, especially riding and racing

Eyebrows that sit back above the eyes and make the face look intense

set-out
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The marking of exact positions on the ground for building work

A computer design that uses a small set of simple commands to work faster

set-back
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A part of a building where the wall becomes narrower in steps

set chisel
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A narrow steel tool for cutting stone and bricks

1 3.9

A tool to draw and check right angles

A computer design where the processor runs many complex commands directly in hardware

set-out
  • Formal
1 4.4

A clear statement of facts, reasons or plans

set-out
  • Specialized
1 3.9

The arrangement of text and images on a page or screen

1 4.9

A toy with metal strips, plates, and wheels you join with nuts and bolts to build moving models

A computer design where the main processor runs many built-in instructions

saw set
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A small tool that bends every other tooth of a saw blade outward

set gun
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A hidden gun that fires as a trap when someone trips a wire

A set of decorative coasters used to protect surfaces from drink stains

A set of drum pads and an electronic sound unit played like a drum kit

friendly set-to
  • Archaic
5.9

A short, mild argument between people who are not angry

A set of matching furniture for a room where people sit and relax, like a sofa and chairs

via ferrata set
  • Specialized
9.9

Climbing gear that has a safety strap and two metal clips for via ferrata routes

How Extensive

to reinitialize
  • Specialized
5 7.2
to overwrite
  • Specialized
10 5.3
to reassign
  • Specialized
1 4.2
to set
∞ 3.2
to assign
  • Specialized
2 3.0

Surface Forms

set infinitive
set past
set past participle
setting present participle
sets third person singular

Etymology

Set (to cause something to begin or apply something, as in set fire) comes from the idea of putting something into a state or starting it by putting elements in place. That is why to set fire to something means to cause it to burn.