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 of set down

• sit
• seat
• put

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

The new generation gives you more playtime to blend and sets down better. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026

TikTok and Instagram may be spreading the word, but the real work happens after the phone is set down. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Right-hander Braxton Roxby made his major league debut for San Francisco in the ninth and set down the Diamondbacks in order. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026

Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for set down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

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