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 of set down

• 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

And the City of Angels is a place Noma has long wanted to set down its roots. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2026

By far the best sentences in her new novel are those setting down the world as seen through Catt’s eyes. —Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

When the cup of alcohol was set down, the tablecloth caught on fire. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025

The texture starts creamy and then sets down into a blurred finish. —Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 Dec. 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