set down

verb

set down; setting down; sets down

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sit down : seat

2

: to place at rest on a surface or on the ground

3

: to suspend (a jockey) from racing

4

: to cause or allow to get off a vehicle : deliver

5

: to land (an airplane) on the ground or water

6

a

: ordain, establish

b

: to put in writing

7

a

: regard, consider

set him down as a liar

b

: attribute

Synonyms

• seat
• sit

Examples of set down in a Sentence

set the toddler down in her seat

set down the names of those in attendance

Recent Examples on the Web

After the coffin has been set down in the square, a book of the Gospels will be placed on top of it. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025

People dressed in black silently walked back and forth to set down each coffin, some carrying them in pairs. —Orion Rummler, Them., 18 Apr. 2025

Alshon, who many pundits now consider to be the 2nd best all around player in the game, set down John’s vanquisher Ford in the quarters, then worked past No. 6 Vich (a rematch of last week’s final) to earn the Sunday singles final spot. —Todd Boss, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Now, Apple has brought this training data set down to just 10 phrases whilst also providing a more authentic match to the original voice. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for set down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

set down

verb

1

: to cause to sit down : seat

2

: to place at rest on a surface or on the ground

3

: to land (an airplane) on the ground or water

4

: establish sense 2

the government set down laws

5

: to put in writing