sets 1 of 2

Definition of setsnext
present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
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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sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
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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as in decors
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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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 sets
Verb
Framed as deregulation, the bill sets a statewide minimum lot size of 1,500 square feet while also shrinking setbacks and eliminating dimensional requirements that could stand in the way of building multiple compact homes on at least four acres of land. Mark Dee march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026 The district monitors and sprays pesticides at breeding sites — including local rivers, streams and locations such as Morris Dam — and sets traps in foothill communities to track the population size and minimize the effects on residents. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026 Passover this year starts at sundown on Wednesday, April 1, and culminates when the sun sets Thursday, April 9. Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026 No one will be surprised if the small-market club sets a third consecutive attendance record. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 What sets them apart is, in exchange for yearly sacrifices in the form of new hires who seem like they won’t be missed, the Virgil’s inhabitants have been granted a conditional immortality that makes the film’s action sequences more fun for a while and then more tedious. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026 Discharges by wastewater treatment plans are regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which sets temperature and water quality standards. Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026 However, the global market sets the price. Grace Manthey, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 Congress sets a statutory deadline for the president to deliver a budget request for the coming fiscal year by the first Monday of February, but recent presidents have trended toward submitting their requests weeks after delivering the annual State of the Union address. Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
Gauff won the Grand Slam matchups in three sets, and Sabalenka won in straight sets in Madrid. Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Scientists also noticed that the whales made different sounds during key moments of the birth, including slower, longer sets of clicks. Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 The best makeup brush sets can make getting ready a lot easier. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Mar. 2026 Planned line extensions rolling out this fall and beyond include bat-and-ball sets, pitching targets and buckets of balls. Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026 The class has 16 sets of twins in its 299-person senior class, according to the school district. Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 When not on horror sets and reading film scripts, Tung is also learning to carve out authentic moments amid the noise of sudden fame. Tiana Denicola, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026 Most luggage sets feature a bag that separates clothes. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026 After re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the Orion will splashdown off the coast of San Diego (weather and systems permitting) with the assistance of two sets of parachutes designed to slow it down to a safe speed of about 17 mph. Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • But reading the profile of Mohamad Eisa and Yolka Gessen left me with a kind of dread, the kind that comes when a spin-off from a hit show spawns a spin-off of its own, promising/threatening hundreds of new hours of content to keep up with.
    Jessa Crispin, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
  • At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella sat for a conversation with the Forum’s interim co-chair, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, explaining that if AI growth spawns solely from investment, then that could be signs of a bubble.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Keep scrolling to see who chooses a more extensive approach to their skin-care regimen, and who prefers a streamlined, less-is-more plan of action.
    Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In a modern Danish farming family, the patriarch Gorm unexpectedly chooses to pass the family farm to his youngest daughter, Astrid, causing a deep rift.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Jenkins values the supportive environment, the beauty of nature and the ability to serve without feeling isolated.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The deal values Terns at $53 per share, or a 6% premium to its Tuesday closing price.
    Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The new school sits beside Star Middle School on Pollard Lane, something that has raised concerns from nearby residents about traffic congestion.
    Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Coby White plays, Grant Williams sits When the injury report came out not long before tipoff, signaling who Charles Lee had available, one key name was missing while another was expected.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • During oral arguments, several conservative justices questioned the legal foundation and practical enforcement of the policy, which aims to deny citizenship to some children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary immigrant parents.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • In a new book, author Christopher Whitcomb aims to uncover the truth of the killings and investigation.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Carolyn decides to attend Rory’s wedding.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
  • This is the kind of error that looks obvious in retrospect and invisible until someone decides to check.
    Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That’s because quantum computers based on the theory could one day break the cryptography that secures our Internet and our financial system.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
  • If Paxton secures the nomination, it will likely be driven by the unwavering support of the GOP’s grassroots base, the same coalition that helped revive his political standing after he was impeached and later acquitted on corruption charges by the Texas legislature three years ago.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Carryboy puts the wet bathroom directly across the aisle and has the kitchen block extend out into the rear of the side entryway.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Understanding the options — from headers to fabric types — puts you in a stronger position to make choices that truly serve your space and your daily life.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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