12 English 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.

5. To arrange or establish something.

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: I tried to SET UP a meeting between us, but they were busy.

Set upon

1. Attack

   
   

   (Inseparable | International English)

   
   

   » Example: They SET UPON her when she was in the car park.