1
: a checking of progress
4
: a placing of a face of a building on a line some distance to the rear of the building line or of the wall below
also
: the area produced by a setback
5
: automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat
6
: the distance of a structure or other feature (such as a well or septic system) from the property line or other feature
Synonyms
Examples of setback in a Sentence
Noun
Despite some early setbacks, they eventually became a successful company.
the colonists persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
But the slow-growth forces suffered a setback two years ago when voters defeated a similar measure to the current ballot initiative.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
Advertisement Dodgers Dodgers injury updates: Bobby Miller, Clayton Kershaw progress but Max Muncy has setback
June 2, 2024
Eleven starts into his sophomore season, Stone is 6-2 with a 2.90 ERA.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
However, the company’s progress was delayed amid regulatory setbacks.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 May 2024
Despite the political setbacks the Floyd family has faced on the issue, George's brother, Philonise Floyd, has kept visiting Washington over the years, making his case for change to pass at long last.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 25 May 2024
Boeing’s Starliner, on the other hand, has faced some major challenges and setbacks.
—Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 22 May 2024
The former investment banker was brought in to revive a firm that had trailed rivals after a series of setbacks and broken promises.
—Alexandre Rajbhandari, Fortune Europe, 22 May 2024
Despite setbacks like these, Fancourt did allow Harry to add a few more claims to his suit, including allegations that the tabloids tapped his landline.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 15 May 2024
Wells were to be cement-lined and houses had to cost at least $1,000 and be set back no less than 15 feet from the street.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2024
Though the pandemic shuttered or severely set back several long-running arts organizations, there are more than a dozen opera companies now active around the Bay Area.
—Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, picked in the second round, was set back in minicamp by plantar fasciitis and never got untracked.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2024
Deep rectangular floors were set back every ten stories, creating a three-tiered wedding cake.
—D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024
Working with her stylist and creative director Brett Alan Nelson, the duo started crafting the concept for Doja’s Coachella set back in November.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
That defense peaked in Week 14 when the Vikings blanked the Las Vegas Raiders 3-0.
While the overall offensive performance of both teams may have set back football 20 years or more in that game, the Vikings defense abused the Raiders and rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell from start to finish.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Laguna Beach in 2023 adopted stricter rules for building or doing extensive expansions on bluffs, requiring developments be set back at least 25 feet from the cliff in specified zones.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Noun
Jack Clark University City Baseball Allowing one unearned run in five innings, the senior kept the Centurions close in a 2-1 SoCal Regional Division 4 championship game setback to Oxnard Pacifica.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
But the slow-growth forces suffered a setback two years ago when voters defeated a similar measure to the current ballot initiative.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
Advertisement Dodgers Dodgers injury updates: Bobby Miller, Clayton Kershaw progress but Max Muncy has setback
June 2, 2024
Eleven starts into his sophomore season, Stone is 6-2 with a 2.90 ERA.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
However, the company’s progress was delayed amid regulatory setbacks.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 May 2024
Despite the political setbacks the Floyd family has faced on the issue, George's brother, Philonise Floyd, has kept visiting Washington over the years, making his case for change to pass at long last.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 25 May 2024
Boeing’s Starliner, on the other hand, has faced some major challenges and setbacks.
—Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 22 May 2024
The former investment banker was brought in to revive a firm that had trailed rivals after a series of setbacks and broken promises.
—Alexandre Rajbhandari, Fortune Europe, 22 May 2024
Despite setbacks like these, Fancourt did allow Harry to add a few more claims to his suit, including allegations that the tabloids tapped his landline.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Verb
Property records from the Hamilton County auditor list Gary and Peggy Johns as owners of the massive, 16,000-square-foot mansion set back off a narrow road in one of Ohio's wealthiest neighborhoods.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 15 May 2024
Wells were to be cement-lined and houses had to cost at least $1,000 and be set back no less than 15 feet from the street.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2024
Though the pandemic shuttered or severely set back several long-running arts organizations, there are more than a dozen opera companies now active around the Bay Area.
—Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, picked in the second round, was set back in minicamp by plantar fasciitis and never got untracked.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2024
Deep rectangular floors were set back every ten stories, creating a three-tiered wedding cake.
—D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024
Working with her stylist and creative director Brett Alan Nelson, the duo started crafting the concept for Doja’s Coachella set back in November.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
That defense peaked in Week 14 when the Vikings blanked the Las Vegas Raiders 3-0.
While the overall offensive performance of both teams may have set back football 20 years or more in that game, the Vikings defense abused the Raiders and rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell from start to finish.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Laguna Beach in 2023 adopted stricter rules for building or doing extensive expansions on bluffs, requiring developments be set back at least 25 feet from the cliff in specified zones.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'setback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near setback
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setback. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
setback
noun
set·back
ˈset-ˌbak 
: a slowing of progress : a temporary defeat
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