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

• seat
• sit

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

At Wimbledon in the fourth round against Zverev, Fritz came back from two sets down to win in five. —Jill Martin, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024

After a chaotic interaction, Grayson yelled at Massey, ordering her to set down the pot of hot water while aiming his firearm at her and threatening to shoot her in the face, according to a state police report. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 26 July 2024

Don’t hesitate to set down any negative habits or cut off bitter frenemies. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024

Fritz notched one of the more impressive Grand Slam wins of his career by coming back from two sets down against Zverev, who made the French Open final last month. —Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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