set 1 of 3

verb

ˈset How to pronounce set (audio)
Definition of setnext
1
as in to sit
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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2
as in to choose
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority set a date for the wedding

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3
as in to estimate
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding fire losses were set at a million dollars

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4
as in to lounge
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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5
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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6
as in to decide
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of finally set some plans for the luncheon

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7
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position had the jeweler set the diamond again

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8
as in to freeze
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly the gelatin is just starting to set now

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9
as in to put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position set a book on the table

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10
as in to harden
to become physically firm or solid the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it

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set

2 of 3

noun

1
as in faction
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

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2
as in pack
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially they rarely associate with anyone outside their social set

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3
as in cluster
a number of things considered as a unit a set of tools

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4
as in type
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic the next set of job applicants had far more education and practical experience

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5
as in scenery
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

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set

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in go
being in a state of fitness for some experience or action we're all set to go

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2
as in stuck
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge that rock is really set in the hillside

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3
as in determined
fully committed to achieving a goal set on being the first in her family to graduate from college

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4
as in certain
having been established and usually not subject to change the library is only open during set hours

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5
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort international law has set rules for the treatment of prisoners of war

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6
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing it was not my set purpose to cause trouble for anyone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of set
Verb
House Bill 1004 would ban the use of algorithmic devices that are used to set or recommend rental prices or occupancy levels in rental housing. — The Denver Post, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025 As for the near to mid-term outlook, the latest is Barça appearing to plot a more concrete route to land Díaz (Spanish) in either a matter of months or 2026, setting aside between €70 million ($76 million) and €75 million ($82 million), according to SPORT. — Henry Flynn, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
Southern Living visited the set last summer and sat down with each of the four leading ladies. — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025 Around 10:30, Portman reappeared to present one of the final sets of the night. — John Lonsdale, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The app has other privacy features, such as automatically disappearing messages after a set period and preventing screenshots of conversations. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 Mar. 2025 The tenure of a police chief should not be tied to the whims of mayors or city managers, but rather for a set term during which they can only be removed for good cause. — Kenneth E. Corey, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for set
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set
  1. sit
  2. choose
  3. estimate
  4. aim
  5. decide
  6. secure
  7. freeze
  8. put
Verb
  • Especially in television, but honestly in any context, to have the space and time to just sit and be.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Fields and Tyrod Taylor’s presence would allow someone like Dart (or any rookie quarterback) to sit and develop for a year or two.
    — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of sit
Verb
  • Cameron might choose one of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books, while Lochlan would likely find value in absurdist fiction, like Albert Camus' The Stranger.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Mazin chose to use this challenge in Season 2 rather than gloss over it.
    — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of choose
Verb
  • The researchers estimated a nearly 20% reduction in dementia diagnosis among those who were, by chance, vaccinated.
    — Christopher M. Worsham, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Analysts estimate Meta could gain between $2.46 billion and $3.38 billion in additional ad revenue in 2025 if TikTok is banned.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of estimate
Verb
  • There’s a misconception that becoming a low-cost leader in an industry can be achieved by implementing one-off programs aimed at efficiency improvement and waste reduction.
    — Thomas Hout, Harvard Business Review, 3 Apr. 2025
  • For my youngest’s terrible handwriting, that meant aiming for legibility and saving the time that could have gone toward cursive lessons for activities that animate her, such as building boats and airplanes from the contents of the recycling bin.
    — Gail Cornwall, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Conrad and Harry decide a meeting should be set up with Richie before things get out of hand.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • He's even spent some time deciding what his future grandkids will call him.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • This backdoor would allow the government to access information secured by Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) system, which applies end-to-end encryption to a wide range of iCloud data.
    — Ryan Browne, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
  • New York State supported the purchase of the building with two grants: $3.5 million from Gov. Kathy Hochul, as requested by Assemblymember Micah Lasher, and $500,000 from the state Senate, secured by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of secure
Verb
  • On March 25, the Wall Street Journal reported that HHS was considering freezing $27.5 million out of the more than $200 million allocated for Title X’s annual budget.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Temperatures can rise to the 80s, then quickly plummet to freezing when an unexpected cold snap arrives.
    — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • In other words, Foster just put himself on a loudly ticking clock.
    — Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority, but a retirement this year puts the majority in play.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of put

Phrases Containing set

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sessions
set
set about
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Cite this Entry

“Set.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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