set the scene
idiom
1
: to give someone information that is needed to understand something
Before I tell the story, let me set the scene (for you).
2
: to create the conditions in which something can happen
His comments set the scene for an argument.
Examples of set the scene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the original post, unlike the current debate, the user set the scene and provided some constraints.
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Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Revisiting Bob Wilson’s opening line from the G-Mex Centre in Manchester in 1988 helps set the scene for the type of (mid-season for the professionals involved) competition that would be unthinkable now.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The event may have taken place at the singular location of Little Caesars Arena, but the eager attendees who traveled from every corner of the city, coupled with the high-energy performances, set the scene for something bigger — a celebratory night for music lovers and Detroit.
—Kenneth Williams, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
The billiard tables and Thonet chairs set the scene for a leisurely afternoon.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the scene
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Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Revisiting Bob Wilson’s opening line from the G-Mex Centre in Manchester in 1988 helps set the scene for the type of (mid-season for the professionals involved) competition that would be unthinkable now.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The event may have taken place at the singular location of Little Caesars Arena, but the eager attendees who traveled from every corner of the city, coupled with the high-energy performances, set the scene for something bigger — a celebratory night for music lovers and Detroit.
—Kenneth Williams, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
The billiard tables and Thonet chairs set the scene for a leisurely afternoon.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the scene
Cite this Entry
“Set the scene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20the%20scene. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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