1
: a checking of progress
4
: a placing of a face of a building on a line some distance to the rear of the building line or of the wall below
also
: the area produced by a setback
5
: automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat
6
: the distance of a structure or other feature (such as a well or septic system) from the property line or other feature
Examples of setback in a Sentence
Noun
Despite some early setbacks, they eventually became a successful company.
The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged those with lesser ambition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ciarán McArdle, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
By all accounts, there has been no setback in his return from the elbow inflammation that has sidelined him since mid-March.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
Yet with Iran's uranium enrichment already on the precipice of becoming weapons-grade, the Iranian nuclear program is likely too far along to be set back through military actions alone.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
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Noun
Yet Vardy took his early setbacks and used them to become one of the most resilient players in history.
—Ciarán McArdle, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
By all accounts, there has been no setback in his return from the elbow inflammation that has sidelined him since mid-March.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Verb
That number would eclipse the previous record set back in 2005 of 44 million people.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
Yet with Iran's uranium enrichment already on the precipice of becoming weapons-grade, the Iranian nuclear program is likely too far along to be set back through military actions alone.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setback. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
setback
noun
set·back
ˈset-ˌbak 
: a slowing of progress : a temporary defeat
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