set aside

1 of 2

phrase

1

: to put to one side : discard

2

: to reserve for a purpose : save

3

: dismiss

4

: annul, overrule

set-aside

2 of 2

noun

ˈset-ə-ˌsīd 

1

: something (such as a portion of receipts or production) that is set aside for a specified purpose

2

: a program requiring a percentage of opportunities (as for jobs or funding) to be reserved for an underrepresented group

Examples of set aside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Trump administration lawyers filed emergency appeals at the Supreme Court to set aside Murphy’s orders. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

But many of these projects, especially those developed for streaming, have either been canceled or set aside after one season. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Noun

These include things like expungements of past convictions, license set-asides for minority dispensary owners, and community reinvestment of cannabis tax revenues. — Daniel J. Mallinson, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Since the set-aside edges had nothing to do with the pool, they could be analyzed independently. — Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for set aside

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• bisulphide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide

Legal Definition

set aside

transitive verb

1

: to disagree with and overturn (a decision or act of a lower tribunal) upon review : overrule, vacate

set aside the decree

2

: to deprive of legal effect or force : annul, void

may set aside the contract