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
b
: to put in writing
7
a
: regard, consider
set him down as a liar
b

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Andreasson arrived nine years ago on a temporary project and wound up setting down roots. David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for set down

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of set down was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Set down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20down. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on set down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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