set off

set off

verb

Definition of SET OFF

transitive verb

1

a : to put in relief : show up by contrast

b : adorn, embellish

c : to set apart : make distinct or outstanding

2

a : offset, compensate <more variety in the Lancashire weather to set off its most disagreeable phases — Geographical Journal>

b : to make a setoff of <the respective totals shall be set off against one another — O. R. Hobson>

3

a : to set in motion : cause to begin

b : to cause to explode

4

: to measure off on a surface

intransitive verb

: to start out on a course or a journey <set off for home>

First Known Use of SET OFF

circa 1598

Related to SET OFF

Synonyms

actuate, crank (up), drive, move, run, activate, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on

Antonyms

cut, cut out, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn off

Related Words

kick over, turn over; charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push; discharge, launch, release, switch, trip; reactivate, recharge; arouse, excite, jump-start, kick-start, stimulate, vitalize; ignite, incite, instigate, provoke, quicken, stir up; accelerate, catalyze, speed (up), step up

Near Antonyms

arrest, brake, check, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick, stop; decelerate, repress, slow, stunt, suppress

Rhymes with SET OFF

back off, beg off, bind off, blastoff, blow off, break off, bring off, brush-off, bug off, bump off, burn off, buy off, call off, cast-off, castoff, change off, charge off, checkoff, check off, Chekhov, choke off, come off, cook-off, cry off, cutoff, cut off, die-off, die off, draw off, drop-off, drop off, dust off, face-off, face off, falloff, far-off, fire off, first off, flip off, fob off, get off, give off, go off, goof-off, handoff, hand off, hands-off, haul off, head off, hold off, jump-off, kickoff, kick off, kill off, kiss-off, kiss off, knockoff, knock off, Khrushchev, laugh off, layoff, lay off, leadoff, leave off, lie off, liftoff, make off, nod off, one-off, palm off, pass off, Pavlov, pawn off, payoff, pay off, peel off, pick off, pickoff, play-off, pop off, pull off, push off, put off, rake-off, reel off, rip-off, rip off, roll-off, rub off, runoff, Sarnoff, sawed-off, seal off, sell off, sell-off, send-off, setoff, show-off, show off, shrug off, shutoff, shut off, sign off, sign-off, sound off, spin-off, spin off, square off, squeeze off, standoff, stand off, stave off, straight off, strike off, swear off, takeoff, take off, Tambov, tap-off, teed off, tee off, tell off, throw off, tick off, tip-off, touch off, trade-off, turnoff, turn off, well-off, Wolof, work off, write-off, write off