Definition

1. Verb:

   • To put or place something in a specific position or location: To cause something to be in a particular place or state.
   • To establish, fix, or determine something: To decide upon or arrange something definitively, such as a time, rule, or standard.
   • To adjust or prepare something for use: To make something ready or suitable for a particular purpose or event.
   • To become firm, solid, or fixed: To change from a liquid or soft state to a hard or permanent state.
   • To go down below the horizon (of the sun, moon, etc.): To disappear from view as it moves downward.

2. Noun:

   • A group of things that belong together or are used together: A collection of items considered as a unit.
   • The scenery and other objects used on a stage or film location: The physical environment constructed for a performance.
   • A unit of play in sports like tennis or volleyball: A part of a match consisting of a fixed number of games.
   • A fixed or rigid state or position: The way something is placed or its fixed condition.
   • A group of people with shared interests or characteristics: An informal social group.

3. Adjective:

   • Fixed, arranged, or decided in advance: Not subject to change; predetermined.
   • Ready or prepared: In a state of readiness.
   • Firm, rigid, or solidified: Not moving or changing; hard.
   • Located or situated in a particular place: Having a specific position.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Please set the vase on the table. (To place)
  • The committee will set the date for the meeting. (To establish)
  • She set the alarm for 6 AM. (To adjust/prepare)
  • The concrete needs time to set. (To become firm)
  • The sun sets in the west. (To go down)

• Noun:

  • He bought a new set of tools. (A group/collection)
  • The film's set was designed to look like ancient Rome. (Stage scenery)
  • She won the first set of the tennis match. (Unit of play)
  • There was a determined set to his jaw. (Fixed position/expression)
  • He's not part of our social set. (Social group)

• Adjective:

  • We have a set schedule for the week. (Fixed/arranged)
  • Are you all set for the trip? (Ready/prepared)
  • His face had a set expression of disapproval. (Firm/rigid)
  • The house is set on a hill overlooking the valley. (Located/situated)

Advanced Usage

• "to be set on/upon (doing) something": To be determined or intent on doing something.

  • She is set on becoming a doctor.

• "to set one's heart/mind on something": To want something very much; to be determined to get or achieve something.

  • He has set his heart on winning the championship.

• "to set the scene": To describe the situation or context in which something happens.

  • Let me set the scene: it was a dark and stormy night.

• "to set a precedent": To establish an example or rule that will be followed in the future.

  • This court ruling could set a dangerous precedent.

Variants and Related Words

• Settle (verb): To resolve or to come to rest in a place. ()
• Setting (noun): The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place. ()
• Setback (noun): A problem that delays or reverses progress. ()
• Set piece (noun): A formal or elaborate arrangement, especially in art, sport, or a military operation. ()
• Mindset (noun): A person's way of thinking and their opinions. ()

Synonyms

• Verb: Place, put, position, establish, fix, determine, adjust, prepare, solidify, harden, sink (for sun).
• Noun: Collection, group, kit, scenery, stage, match (in sports), expression, clique, circle.
• Adjective: Fixed, predetermined, ready, prepared, rigid, firm, located, situated.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Set up:

  • To establish or arrange something. They set up a new company.
  • To prepare or make something ready for use. Can you help me set up the projector?

• Set off:

  • To start a journey. We set off at dawn.
  • To cause something to start or happen. His comment set off an argument.

• Set out:

  • To start a journey. They set out on a long hike.
  • To explain or describe something clearly. The rules are set out in the manual.

• Set in:

  • To begin and seem likely to continue (often for unpleasant things). Winter has set in early this year.

• Set aside:

  • To save or keep something for a particular purpose. She sets aside money every month.
  • To officially annul or overrule a legal decision. The judge set aside the verdict.

Related Idioms

• Set in stone: Fixed and unable to be changed.

  • The plans aren't set in stone yet; we can still make changes.

• Set the world on fire: To be very successful and cause great excitement.

  • The young singer is talented, but I don't think she'll set the world on fire.

• Set your sights on: To decide you want to achieve something and try hard to do it.

  • He has set his sights on getting into a top university.

• Set foot in/on: To enter or go to a place.

  • I'll never set foot in that restaurant again.

• Dead set against: Completely opposed to something.

  • My parents are dead set against me moving abroad.

Verb

1. arrange attractively
   • dress my hair for the wedding
2. bear fruit
   • the apple trees fructify
3. alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
   • Adjust the clock, please
   • correct the alignment of the front wheels
4. get ready for a particular purpose or event
   • set up an experiment
   • set the table
   • lay out the tools for the surgery
5. equip with sails or masts
   • rig a ship
6. estimate
   • We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M.
7. urge to attack someone
   • The owner sicked his dogs on the intruders
   • the shaman sics sorcerers on the evil spirits
8. give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor
9. insert (a nail or screw below the surface, as into a countersink)
10. put into a position that will restore a normal state
    • set a broken bone
11. set in type
    • My book will be typeset nicely
    • set these words in italics
12. become gelatinous
    • the liquid jelled after we added the enzyme
13. apply or start
    • set fire to a building
14. put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
    • Let's plant flowers in the garden
15. adapt for performance in a different way
    • set this poem to music
16. disappear beyond the horizon
    • the sun sets early these days
17. locate
    • The film is set in Africa
18. set to a certain position or cause to operate correctly
    • set clocks or instruments
19. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
    • Get the children ready for school!
    • prepare for war
    • I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill
20. fix in a border
    • The goldsmith set the diamond
21. put into a certain state; cause to be in a certain state
    • set the house afire
22. establish as the highest level or best performance
    • set a record
23. decide upon or fix definitely
    • fix the variables
    • specify the parameters
24. fix conclusively or authoritatively
    • set the rules
25. put into a certain place or abstract location
    • Put your things here
    • Set the tray down
    • Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
    • Place emphasis on a certain point

Adjective

1. converted to solid form (as concrete)
2. determined or decided upon as by an authority
   • date and place are already determined
   • the dictated terms of surrender
   • the time set for the launching
3. being below the horizon
   • the moon is set
4. set down according to a plan:"a carefully laid table with places set for four people"
   • stones laid in a pattern
5. situated in a particular spot or position
   • valuable centrally located urban land
   • strategically placed artillery
   • a house set on a hilltop
   • nicely situated on a quiet riverbank
6. fixed and unmoving
   • with eyes set in a fixed glassy stare
   • his bearded face already has a set hollow look- Connor Cruise O'Brien
   • a face rigid with pain
7. (usually followed by `to' or `for') on the point of or strongly disposed
   • in no fit state to continue
   • fit to drop
   • laughing fit to burst
   • she was fit to scream
   • primed for a fight
   • we are set to go at any time

Noun

1. any electronic equipment that receives or transmits radio or tv signals
   • the early sets ran on storage batteries
2. (psychology) being temporarily ready to respond in a particular way
   • the subjects' set led them to solve problems the familiar way and to overlook the simpler solution
   • his instructions deliberately gave them the wrong set
3. the descent of a heavenly body below the horizon
   • before the set of sun
4. evil Egyptian god with the head of a beast that has high square ears and a long snout; brother and murderer of Osiris
5. the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization
   • the hardening of concrete
   • he tested the set of the glue
6. a unit of play in tennis or squash
   • they played two sets of tennis after dinner
7. the act of putting something in position
   • he gave a final set to his hat
8. a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
   • the set of his mind was obvious
9. an unofficial association of people or groups
   • the smart set goes there
   • they were an angry lot
10. representation consisting of the scenery and other properties used to identify the location of a dramatic production
    • the sets were meticulously authentic
11. several exercises intended to be done in series
    • he did four sets of the incline bench press
12. (mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols
    • the set of prime numbers is infinite
13. a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
    • a set of books
    • a set of golf clubs
    • a set of teeth