Phrasal Verbs With 'Set'

Set about phrasal verb

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

Set apart phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: 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 phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: 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 phrasal verb

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

Set forth phrasal verb

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

Set in phrasal verb

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

Set off phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: 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. Meaning: Ring an alarm
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The smoke SET the fire alarm OFF.
  3. Meaning: Start a journey
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We SET OFF for work at seven-thirty.
  4. Meaning: Counterbalance a debt
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The company SET OFF its overseas debts against it profits at home.
  5. Meaning: Provide a visual contrast that looks good
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The dark frame SETS the pale drawing OFF well.
  6. Meaning: Cause, trigger events
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The pay freeze SET OFF a wave of strikes.

Set on phrasal verb

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

Set out phrasal verb

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

Set to phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: 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 phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Prepare equipment, software, etc., for use
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The technician SET UP the computer network perfectly.
  2. Meaning: 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. Meaning: Provide someone with the money needed to live
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Winning the lottery SET them UP for life.
  4. Meaning: Trick, deceive
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The police SET them UP.

Set upon phrasal verb

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

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