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
  • 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
  • Those are major jumps from last frame, when the tune sat below the top 50 on both tallies.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of sit
Verb
  • Wayfair has an entire pillow storefront with over 50,000 styles to choose from, including indoor/outdoor options, reversible designs, and more.
    — Ali Faccenda, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The name of the facility was chosen in August 2021 to honor the Tuskegee Airmen and the ground breaking was held that same month.
    — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of choose
Verb
  • Heading into the weekend, the film was estimated to collect $100 million globally.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The $180 billion gaming industry now dwarfs the size of traditional Hollywood movies and television (estimated at $100 billion annually), and has become the preferred pastime for younger generations.
    — Matt Craig, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of estimate
Verb
  • McConnell and three other Republicans sided with Senate Democrats on Wednesday, helping to narrowly pass a resolution aimed at blocking some tariffs.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Musk stated that the merger aims to combine xAI's advanced AI capabilities with X's extensive user base, enhancing user experiences and accelerating technological progress.
    — Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 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
  • After a week-long trial which started on March 24th, a jury took just three and a half hours to decide that Kingston, 35, and his mother ran a scheme to scam luxury brands, jewelers, and even a home entertainment company out of more than $1 million.
    — Essence News Editors, Essence, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • SeatGeek provides a series of tips for fans to practice in hopes to secure cheap tickets.
    — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • New users who secure BetMGM bonus code NEWSWEEK1500 will have a chance to go big on the NBA, MLB or college basketball this week.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 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
  • The unemployment rate also ticked up to 4.1% as the Trump administration continued its large-scale slashing of government jobs and back and forth over its trade policy, both of which unsettled businesses and households — putting pressure on the economy.
    — Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Watson, whose massive frame is famous in Gainesville, put himself on the national stage after a 36-rep bench press that would’ve marked the best figure at the combine by three reps.
    — Jackson Castellano, The Orlando Sentinel, 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 6 Apr. 2025.

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