set piece
noun
plural set pieces
1
a
: a composition (as in literature, art, or music) executed in a fixed or ideal form often with studied artistry and brilliant effect
b
: a scene, depiction, speech, or event that is obviously designed to have an imposing effect
2
: a realistic piece of stage scenery standing by itself
3
: a precisely planned and conducted military operation
an offensive set piece that caught the enemy off guard
4
sports
: a carefully planned sequence of movements performed by the members of a team (as in soccer)
A set piece can be used on either a direct or indirect type of [free] kick, providing one of the few times during the game that a team can execute something that it may have spent hours practicing.—
Doug Roberson
Doug Roberson
Examples of set piece in a Sentence
a movie with some lovely set pieces
She scored with a set piece.
Recent Examples on the Web
The narrative is a blank page upon which Hollywood’s most brilliant stunt choreographers go to town, and every action set piece is here weaved together with as much, if not more, aplomb than anything that has preceded it.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 4 June 2025
The caveat here is the aforementioned set piece advantage that Inter have.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Throughout the film, their score helps acclimate the audience emotionally and geographically, and provides an underlying structure for the set pieces that keeps them from becoming monotonous.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 May 2025
The entire first act could be cut in its entirety without losing a single joke, piece of plot information, or, most damningly, a set piece of real value.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for set piece
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Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 4 June 2025
The caveat here is the aforementioned set piece advantage that Inter have.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Throughout the film, their score helps acclimate the audience emotionally and geographically, and provides an underlying structure for the set pieces that keeps them from becoming monotonous.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 May 2025
The entire first act could be cut in its entirety without losing a single joke, piece of plot information, or, most damningly, a set piece of real value.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for set piece
Cite this Entry
“Set piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20piece. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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