Set

Meaning at a glance

Primary sense: A punch for setting nails in wood.
Grammar: set is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
Nearest alternatives: a to izzard, a to z, aberration, abet.
Useful contrasts: arbitrary fines, flexible stance, runny.
Usage evidence: Don't set your failure down to bad luck.

How to use "set"

Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "set" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "set" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "set" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "set" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "set" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "a to izzard" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "set", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun

1
A punch for setting nails in wood.
"nail set"
2
A young plant fit for setting out; a slip; shoot.
3
Gene for a human protein involved in apoptosis, transcription and nucleosome assembly. uncountable
4
several exercises intended to be done in series wordnet
5
A device for receiving broadcast radio waves (or, more recently, broadcast data); a radio or television.
"television set"

Show 50 more definitions

6
A rudimentary fruit.
7
Initialism of Simulated Emergency Test, an amateur radio training exercise. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
8
the act of putting something in position wordnet
9
Alternative form of sett (“a hole made and lived in by a badger”). alt-of, alternative
10
The setting of the sun or other luminary; (by extension) the close of the day.
"The weary sun hath made a golden set."
11
any electronic equipment that receives or transmits radio or tv signals wordnet
12
Alternative form of sett (“pattern of threads and yarns”). alt-of, alternative
13
General movement; direction; drift; tendency. figuratively, literally
"Here and there, amongst individuals alive to the particular evils of the age, and watching the very set of the current, there may have been even a more systematic counteraction applied to the mischief."
14
representation consisting of the scenery and other properties used to identify the location of a dramatic production wordnet
15
Alternative form of sett (“piece of quarried stone”). alt-of, alternative
16
A matching collection of similar things. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 2, Noun.)
"a set of tables"
17
(psychology) being temporarily ready to respond in a particular way wordnet
18
A small tuber or bulb used instead of seed, particularly onion sets and potato sets.
19
A collection of various objects for a particular purpose.
"a set of tools"
20
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way wordnet
21
The amount by which the teeth of a saw protrude to the side in order to create the kerf.
22
An object made up of several parts.
"a set of steps"
23
the descent of a heavenly body below the horizon wordnet
24
A permanent change of shape caused by excessive strain, as from compression, tension, bending, twisting, etc.
"the set of a spring"
25
A collection of zero or more objects, possibly infinite in size, and disregarding any order or repetition of the objects which may be contained within it.
26
a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used wordnet
27
A bias of mind; an attitude or pattern of behaviour.
28
Set theory. informal, plural
29
(mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols wordnet
30
A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile when the latter cannot otherwise be reached by the weight, or hammer.
31
A group of people, usually meeting socially or connected through some shared interest, activity, attribute, etc.
"the country set"
32
an unofficial association of people or groups wordnet
33
The width of the body of a type. dated
34
The scenery for a film or play.
35
the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization wordnet
36
A young oyster when first attached.
37
the general locations and area where a movie’s, a film’s, or a video’s scenery is arranged to be filmed also including places for actors, assorted crew, director, producers which are typically not filmed.
38
a unit of play in tennis or squash wordnet
39
Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any locality.
40
The initial or basic formation of dancers.
41
A series or group of something. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 4, Noun)
42
A group of repetitions of a single exercise performed one after the other without rest.
"Meronym: reps"
43
The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit. colloquial
"the set of a coat"
44
A complete series of games, forming part of a match.
45
The pattern of a tartan, etc.
46
A complete series of points, forming part of a match.
47
The camber of a curved roofing tile.
48
The act of directing the ball to a teammate for an attack.
49
The full number of eggs set under a hen.
50
A musical performance by a band, disc jockey, etc., consisting of several musical pieces.
"You heard “oh, Jeremy Corbyn” everywhere: at the silent disco, during Radiohead’s Friday night headlining set, midway through the Other stage appearance by rapper Stormzy, who gamely joined in."
51
That which is staked; a wager; hence, a gambling game. obsolete, rare
"We will in France, by God's grace, play a set / Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard."
52
A drum kit, a drum set.
"He plays the set on Saturdays."
53
A tool for dressing forged iron.
54
A class group in a subject where pupils are divided by ability. UK
"Looking at pupil attainment, the study found that students with the same Key Stage 3 scores could have their GCSE grade raised or lowered by up to half a grade as a result of being placed in a higher or lower set."
55
Three of a kind, especially if two cards are in one's hand and the third is on the board. Compare trips (“three of a kind, especially with two cards on the board and one in one's hand”). slang

Verb

1
To put (something) down, to rest. transitive
"Set the tray there."
2
To divide a class group in a subject according to ability UK
"In setted classes, students are brought together because they are believed to be of similar 'ability'. Yet, setted lessons are often conducted as though students are not only similar, but identical—in terms of ability, preferred learning style and pace of working."
3
arrange attractively wordnet
4
To attach or affix (something) to something else, or in or upon a certain place. transitive
"I have set my heart on running the marathon."
5
produce fruit wordnet

Show 68 more definitions

6
To put in a specified condition or state; to cause to be. transitive
"The Lord thy God will set thee on high."
7
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard wordnet
8
To start (a fire). transitive
9
set to a certain position or cause to operate correctly wordnet
10
To cause to stop or stick; to obstruct; to fasten to a spot. dated, transitive
"to set a coach in the mud"
11
put into a certain state; cause to be in a certain state wordnet
12
To determine or settle. transitive
"to set the rent"
13
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc wordnet
14
To adjust. transitive
"I set the alarm at 6 a.m."
15
get ready for a particular purpose or event wordnet
16
To punch (a nail) into wood so that its head is below the surface. transitive
17
equip with sails or masts wordnet
18
To arrange with dishes and cutlery, to set the table. transitive
"Please set the table for our guests."
19
become gelatinous wordnet
20
To introduce or describe. transitive
"I’ll tell you what happened, but first let me set the scene."
21
estimate wordnet
22
To locate (a play, etc.); to assign a backdrop to, geographically or temporally. transitive
"He says he will set his next film in France."
23
fix conclusively or authoritatively wordnet
24
To compile, to make (a puzzle or challenge). transitive
"This crossword was set by Araucaria."
25
decide upon or fix definitely wordnet
26
To prepare (a stage or film set). transitive
27
establish as the highest level or best performance wordnet
28
To fit (someone) up in a situation. transitive
29
urge to attack someone wordnet
30
To arrange (type). transitive
"It was a complex page, but he set it quickly."
31
give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor wordnet
32
To devise and assign (work) to. transitive
"The teacher set her students the task of drawing a foot."
33
put into a certain place or abstract location wordnet
34
To direct (the ball) to a teammate for an attack. transitive
35
insert (a nail or screw below the surface, as into a countersink) wordnet
36
To solidify. intransitive
"The glue sets in five minutes."
37
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground wordnet
38
To render stiff or solid; especially, to convert into curd; to curdle. transitive
"to set milk for cheese"
39
fix in a border wordnet
40
Of a heavenly body, to disappear below the horizon of a planet, etc, as the latter rotates. intransitive
"The moon sets at eight o'clock tonight."
41
put into a position that will restore a normal state wordnet
42
To defeat a contract. transitive
43
apply or start wordnet
44
To begin to move; to go forth. obsolete
"The king is set from London, and the scene is now transported, gentles, to Southampton"
45
adapt for performance in a different way wordnet
46
To produce after pollination. transitive
"to set seed"
47
locate wordnet
48
To be fixed for growth; to strike root; to begin to germinate or form. intransitive
"In the Annapolis Valley, in spite of an irregular bloom, the fruit has set well and has, as yet, been little affected by scab."
49
set in type wordnet
50
To sit (be in a seated position). Midwestern-US, Southern-US, dialectal, intransitive
"He sets in that chair all day."
51
disappear beyond the horizon wordnet
52
To rest or lie somewhere, on something, etc.; to occupy a certain place. Midwestern-US, Southern-US, dialectal, intransitive
"Well, we rolled up Interstate 44 Like a rocket-sled on rails. We tore up all of our swindle sheets And left 'em settin' on the scales."
53
To hunt game with the aid of a setter.
54
Of a dog, to indicate the position of game. ambitransitive
"The dog sets the bird."
55
To apply oneself; to undertake earnestly.
"If he set industriously and sincerely to perform the commands of Christ, he can have no ground of doubting but it shall prove successful to him."
56
To fit music to words. ambitransitive
"Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute."
57
To place plants or shoots in the ground; to plant. ambitransitive
"to set pear trees in an orchard"
58
To become fixed or rigid; to be fastened.
59
To have a certain direction of motion; to flow; to move on; to tend.
"The current sets to the north; the tide sets to the windward."
60
To acknowledge a dancing partner by facing him or her and moving first to one side and then to the other, while she or he does the opposite. intransitive
"Set to partners! was the next instruction from the caller."
61
To place or fix in a setting.
"to set a precious stone in a border of metal"
62
To put in order in a particular manner; to prepare.
"to set (that is, to hone) a razor"
63
To extend and bring into position; to spread.
"to set the sails of a ship"
64
To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the keynote.
"[…] I ſhould be very vvilling to be his Clerk; for vvhich you knovv I am qualified, being able to read, and to ſet a Pſalm."
65
To reduce from a dislocated or fractured state.
"to set a broken bone"
66
To sit or lie (easily etc.) on the stomach; to be digested in a certain manner. dialectal, intransitive
"If you also knew how to combine foods—that is, what foods eaten together “set well,” you need never have indigestion, constipation or any of the headachy, stomachachy ills they lead to."
67
To lower into place and fix solidly, as the blocks of cut stone in a structure.
68
To wager in gambling; to risk. obsolete
"I have set my life upon a cast, / And I will stand the hazard of the die."
69
To adorn with something infixed or affixed; to stud; to variegate with objects placed here and there.
"High on their heads, with jewels richly set, / Each lady wore a radiant coronet."
70
To value; to rate; used with at. obsolete
"Be you contented, wearing now the garland, / To have a son set your decrees at naught."
71
To establish as a rule; to furnish; to prescribe; to assign.
"to set a good example"
72
To suit; to become. Scotland
"It sets him ill."
73
To cause (a domestic fowl) to sit on eggs to brood.
"To set a hen."

Adjective

1
Fixed in position.
"Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found."
2
Rigid, solidified.
3
Ready, prepared.
"on your marks, get set, go!; on your marks, set, go!"
4
Intent, determined (to do something).
"set on getting to his destination"
5
Prearranged.
"a set menu"

Show 2 more definitions

6
Fixed in one’s opinion.
"I’m set against the idea of smacking children to punish them."
7
Fixed in a certain style.

Adjective

1
converted to solid form (as concrete) wordnet
2
fixed and unmoving wordnet
3
set down according to a plan wordnet
4
(usually followed by ‘to’ or ‘for’) on the point of or strongly disposed wordnet
5
situated in a particular spot or position wordnet

Show 2 more definitions

6
determined or decided upon as by an authority wordnet
7
being below the horizon wordnet

Proper Noun

1
An ancient Egyptian god, variously described as the god of chaos, the god of thunder and storms, or the god of destruction. Egyptian
2
Initialism of Strategic Energy Technologies Plan of the European Union. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
3
Initialism of Stock Exchange of Thailand, the national stock exchange of Thailand. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Synonyms

All synonyms

a to izzarda to zaberration abet accepted accommodate

Antonyms

arbitrary finesflexible stancerunny unhardened

Example

"Don't set your failure down to bad luck."

Common questions

What does "set" mean?

A punch for setting nails in wood.

What is a synonym for "set"?

Common synonyms include: a to izzard, a to z, aberration, abet, accepted, accommodate.

How do you use "set" in a sentence?

Don't set your failure down to bad luck.

How do you pronounce "set"?

Pronounced /sɛt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English setten, from Old English settan, from Proto-West Germanic *sattjan, from Proto-Germanic *satjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sodéyeti, causative of *sed- (“to sit”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English set, sette, from Old English set (“seat, place of residence, camp, settlement, entrenchment, stable, pen”), from Proto-West Germanic *set (“seat”), from Proto-Germanic *setą (“seat”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English sett, from Old English ġesett, past participle of settan.

Etymology 4

From Middle English set, sete, sette (“that which is set, the act of setting, seat”), from Old English set (“setting, seat, a place where people remain, habitation, camp, entrenchment, a place where animals are kept, stall, fold”) and Old English seten (“a set, shoot, slip, branch; a nursery, plantation; that which is planted or set; a cultivated place; planting, cultivation; a setting, putting; a stopping; occupied land”), related to Old English settan (“to set”). Compare Middle Low German gesette (“a set, suite”), Old English gesetl (“assembly”). According to Skeat, in senses denoting a group of things or persons, representing an alteration of sept, from Old French sette (“a religious sect”), from Medieval Latin secta (“retinue”), from Latin secta (“a faction”). See sect. It is quite possible that the modern word is more of a merger between both, however.

Etymology 5

Borrowed from Coptic ⲥⲏⲧ (sēt), from Egyptian s-t:X (stẖ).