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

Her uncle, Lee Kuan Yew, was Singapore’s first prime minister, credited with setting down an approach to economic development that helped make the city-state one of Asia’s richest and most developed societies. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 1 June 2026

Learner Tien, 20, saved match points and came back from a set down in his second-round match. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026

Jodar, meantime, came from two sets down against 34-year-old Pablo Carreno Busta to win in five sets, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. —Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Yoshida walked to force in Boston’s fourth run of the afternoon before Dion set down Kiner-Falefa for the first out of the frame. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026

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