to set store by

1 7.9

To think something is important and worth attention

phrasal verb

Archaic

: valorar

She set store by the traditions of her family, believing they shaped her identity.

Examples

There's some who set store by 'em, but I just don't trust 'em.

Fiction book (1994)
He set store by me... and I swore by the mountain.

Gone to Earth (1950)
"Set store by it, do you?"

Fiction book (1994)
"I'd say I set store by survival," I used to scowl.

Fiction book (1994)
Many athletes set store by their coaches for guidance and support.
If you set store by honesty, you'll always be respected by others.

Synonyms

to value

vsto set store by

285 1.9

To think a person or thing is important

is more a neutral regard for importance rather than strong appreciation

to lay store by

vsto set store by

Archaic

8.6

To value something and trust it

is mainly about valuing importance rather than relying on trust

to put much store by

vsto set store by

8.1

To think something is very important and trust it a lot

is a general regard for importance rather than strong belief

Antonyms

to disregard

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

How Important

to treasure

76 2.9

to prize

54 3.8

to set store by

Archaic

1 7.9

value

∞ 1.3

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

set store by infinitive

set store by past

set store by past participle

setting store by present participle

sets store by third person singular

Morphology

set + store + by

The phrase 'set store by' meaning 'to value/regard as important' is not transparently derived from the literal meanings of 'set' (to fix), 'store' (a supply) and 'by' (preposition). The composition is idiomatic and somewhat archaic — learners who know the individual words are unlikely to predict the evaluative sense without prior exposure, so it functions as an opaque phraseological unit.

Etymology

Set store by may come from the old image of putting goods into a safe store: to set something in your store was to keep it because it mattered. That's why it now means 'to value' or 'to think something is important'.