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 stints in Santa Maria, Sonoma and New Zealand, Chin was ready to set down roots and be closer to his friends in the South Bay. —Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025

Related article Gaël Monfils becomes oldest ever winner of an ATP Tour title, surpassing Roger Federer Monfils watched Svitolina’s win from her players’ box as the Ukrainian 28th seed also came from a set down to win 2-6 6-4 6-0 and reach the fourth round. —Matias Grez, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025

Based on Fujii’s desire to create something that evokes a sense of nature, Yamada meticulously crafted the set down to the smallest details, including the texture of the soil and the small objects inside the garage. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 27 Dec. 2024

Since then, Jameson, Vance and Brooke have all moved out of their family house, setting down roots of their own in different parts. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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