12 English Phrasal Verbs With 'SET'

What's covered on this page

We have definitions for 12 phrasal verbs with 'SET'

12 phrasal verbs with 'SET'

Set about

  1. Start doing something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: We SET ABOUT the cleaning and got it done before lunchtime.
  2. Attack
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The gang SET ABOUT her as she left the bank.

Set apart

  1. Distinguish, be better than or different from others
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: The quality of their work SETS them APART from their rivals.

Set aside

  1. Overturn a court verdict or decision
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The Appeal Court SET ASIDE the guilty verdict because the evidence was unsatisfactory and declared her not guilty.

Set back

  1. Cost
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: The car repairs SET me BACK eight hundred pounds.
  2. Delay
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The accident SET the project BACK several months.

Set forth

  1. State or outline an opinion
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: He SET FORTH his ideas in his autobiography.
  2. Start a journey
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We SET FORTH at daybreak for the summit of the mountain.

Set in

  1. Change season noticeably
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: Winter has SET IN; it's started snowing.

Set off

  1. Explode a bomb
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Terrorists SET OFF a car bomb in the city centre last night. Fortunately, no-one was hurt or killed.
  2. Ring an alarm
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The smoke SET the fire alarm OFF.
  3. Start a journey
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We SET OFF for work at seven-thirty.
  4. Counterbalance a debt
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The company SET OFF its overseas debts against it profits at home.
  5. Provide a visual contrast that looks good
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The dark frame SETS the pale drawing OFF well.
  6. Cause, trigger events
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The pay freeze SET OFF a wave of strikes.

Set on

  1. Attack
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He was SET ON when he left the bar.

Set out

  1. Display, show
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The figures are SET OUT in the council's annual report.
  2. Start a journey
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The explorers SET OUT for the South Pole yesterday morning.
  3. Arrange, organise
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The contract SETS OUT all the details of the agreement.

Set to

  1. Work hard or enthusiastically
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: If we all SET TO, we should be able to finish this in a few hours.

Set up

  1. Prepare equipment, software, etc., for use
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The technician SET UP the computer network perfectly.
  2. Start a company
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: They SET UP a dot com company, floated it a couple of years later on the Stock Exchange and made an absolute fortune.
  3. Provide someone with the money needed to live
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Winning the lottery SET them UP for life.
  4. Trick, deceive
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The police SET them UP.

Set upon

  1. Attack
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: They SET UPON her when she was in the car park.

Take our Exercise on 'SET'

Quiz for Verb: 'To SET'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Set off' means...

'Set to' means...

'Set up' means...

'Set out' means...

'Set off' means...

'Set up' means...

'Set forth' means...

'Set up' means...

'Set in' means...

'Set upon' means...

 

Trustpilot