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

• 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 prestigious brand setting down roots in Nashville marks a new chapter in the city's evolution as a top-tier retail hotspot and destination of global cultural importance, business reporter Molly Davis writes. —Amber Roberson, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

Shortly after the Game 3 loss, Varland set down his hat and walked out of the visitor’s clubhouse. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

After straightforward wins over Katie Boulter and Zhang Shuai, Anisimova came from a set down in back-to-back matches against Karolina Muchová and Jasmine Paolini. —Frank Nunns O'Connell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025

Rotate the glass to get every side, then set down and polish. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025

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