To arrange or place something in a certain spot or position
“You can set your coat on the rack by the doorway.”
To lay in surrounding matter
“The urban artist would set metal bars and plates into concrete as part of his latest sculpture.”
To decide on and announce
“Allowing someone else to set a date for your dream delivery implies that you are not taking full ownership of the responsibility for the dream.”
To harden into a solid or semi-solid state
“Once you set any form of confectionery with gelatine, it will no longer be worthy of being called a cake.”
(of the sun) To dip below the horizon
“Her eyes were focused on the horizon where the sun was due to set at any minute.”
To adjust or calibrate (the settings of) a device
“We would set our watches and agree to meet at exactly four o'clock.”
To ornament, usually through the placement or embedding of jewelry
“She commissioned a horologist to create a custom gold watch, and to set it with diamonds.”
To put into order or make ready
“We need to set the table before our guests arrive.”
To allot, or assign, something (as a task)
“Don't set yourself an impossible task that's doomed to fail.”
To concentrate one's attention or effort
“You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.”
To position or align towards a given direction
“I set the camera towards the coast and hoped for a stunning display.”
To be situated or fixed in a specified place or position
“Tomorrow they will head to Gruyere, a village set among rolling mountains.”
To arrange or establish
“Kobayashi set a new record in 2001 when he ate 50 hot dogs in 21 minutes.”
To enter a program or instructions into a (usually electronic or digital) device
“Hey Siri, please set the alarm clock for six o'clock in the morning.”
(set off) To start or incite
“Jessie's outrageous hoax would almost set off a riot.”
To assess the value or quality of
To adapt to, or bring into accord with, a given environment or standard
To regulate the speed or amount of something given or administered
To mark or fix the limits of
To issue, establish or apply as a fee, charge, fine or penalty
To bet money or something else in a gamble
To put forward for consideration
To attend to one's appearance, typically one's hair
To categorize as a specified type or holding a rank within a hierarchy
To keep an egg warm, allowing it to hatch
To place or put between or among others
To enact or establish legally or legislatively
To state a price for goods or a job of work
To move in a specified direction
To adopt or be in a position in which one's weight is supported by one's buttocks
To line up or arrange next to
To enter data into a computer system
To fix or maintain something, such as prices, at a particular level or value
To convey or express in a particular way or manner
To have imposed an undesirable consequence on
(mainly British) To contribute or undertake to contribute a certain sum of money to a fund, project, or cause
To give assent to and act on a suggestion by another
To place something or someone in a particular context
To settle or come to terms on a particular arrangement
To diffuse, radiate or give off
(of a material) To stretch or open out
To bring into competition or conflict with
To make sure or certain of
To counteract or equal the effect or importance of
To make or be made into a specific shape or form
To move to face in another direction
A collection of props used for a particular scene in a play or film
“The performance looks different each time as mist, rain, and moonlight naturally alter the set of the stage.”
A group of people with common interests or occupations or of similar social status
“However grand the chandeliers and oil paintings, life in their social set seems far from Gosford Park.”
A group working together to advance its interests
“The younger set is likely to find the long-winded sermons a tad boring.”
A group or collection of things that belong together or that are related in some way
“Jefe was excited to tell El Guapo about the large set of pinatas in the storeroom, each of them filled with little surprises.”
A unit into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
“The anatomy for this set of animals has evolved to be optimized for the digestion of plants.”
A collection of implements or objects customarily used together
“Be careful with the luggage as it contains my expensive golf set.”
A group of pupils or students who are taught together
“He was placed into a set of pupils who were more advanced in their learning than their peers.”
The posture of a part of the body, typically reflecting a person's feelings or intentions
“The set of his upper torso suggested he was in no mood for condescension.”
A fixed look or determined expression
“The set of her face suggested there was some other wreckage in her that Michelle did not yet recognize.”
A container containing a collection of the same item
“I just purchased a new set of cutlery.”
A set of dishes or utensils
“She brought out her prized silver tea set.”
A thing that is complete in itself
A sequence of items of the same type forming a line
An organized competition or activity usually performed for the enjoyment of a mass of people
The circumstances, conditions, or objects by which someone or something is surrounded
A complex system of interconnected elements
A portion drawn from a population or group, typically for purposes of analysis
The overall style of decoration of a room or building
Ways to accomplish something
A matched pair, complementing each other seamlessly
The place where an incident in real life or fiction occurs or occurred
An acquired or natural skill at doing something
A settled or regular tendency or practice
A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal as a dwelling
A platform supported by scaffolds
A hand including three cards of the same rank
A course of action or a policy
A large amount of something
The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual or group
Fixed or arranged in advance
“Would it be possible to engage your service at a set fee per month?”
Not able to be changed
“She has set ideas about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.”
Distinct or special to a specific individual, thing or circumstance
“I always tell students that there are no set rules for writing and they can write whatever they like.”
Ready, prepared, or likely to do something
“We had finally finished packing and were set for our trip.”
Conforming to the standard variety
“The best man's speech was based on a set wedding speech template and felt thoroughly insincere.”
Firmly fixed in place
“That boulder is really set in the riverbank.”
(set on) Fully committed to an idea or goal
“From a young age, his heart was set on becoming a professional athlete.”
(of material for study) Prescribed as part of a course
“He became increasingly disillusioned with merely having to regurgitate the set syllabus in his exams.”
(set against) Firmly opposed to
“I never touched a cigarette because my father was so set against smoking.”
Hardened in texture
“Once the jelly was set, the two molds were turned back up the right way and set on a serving dish.”
Done with full awareness of what one is doing
“It was not my set purpose to offend anyone with my choice of lifestyle.”
Used or accepted broadly by most people
Characterized by banality or triteness
(of a custom or tradition) Respected or valued because it has existed for a long time
Certain, incontestable or incontrovertible
Prepared or ready for use or action
Unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
With regular, repetitive motion or sound
On the way or directed to a given target or destination
According to expectations
Disposed or willing to do something
Ready and willing
Exclusive to, or for, someone, something or a group
Bound to happen
Located or established
Having arrived at the fitting stage or time for a particular action or purpose)
Set into a surface in a decorative pattern
Finished or having been brought to an end
Restricted or low in amount or extent
Relating to or used for formal religious or public events
On the brink of doing something
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