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

Despite a shaky start in her quarterfinal match, Aryna Sabalenka showed her trademark resilience and power, battling back from a set down to defeat Laura Siegemund 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025

Meanwhile, according to their attorneys, the family set down roots in Los Angeles and the children enrolled in public school and were learning English. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 4 July 2025

The latest arrival to set down roots is the American hospitality brand JW Marriott, which, this month, has opened the doors at its first address in the Mediterranean. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Gi-hun reluctantly sets down the child and lets Myung-gi pick her up and bring her over to the third pillar. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 June 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