as in assistance
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set aside
2 of 2phrase
1
as in dedicate
to keep or intend for a special purpose
He set aside $100 a month for a down payment on a car.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abolish
to put an end to by formal action
The company set aside the old strict dress code and allowed employees to dress a little more casually.
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3
as in dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
The professional organizer helped us set aside anything we didn't need or want anymore.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
She set aside her wedding dress in case her own daughter might want to wear it some day.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set-aside
Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Designed to help eligible firms overcome early barriers to government procurement, the program provides access to set-aside and sole-source contracts alongside business development support, with the goal of helping companies build capacity and eventually compete without preference.
—Natalie Madeira Cofield, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The city could then use subcontracting goals or set-asides for certain small contracts to target businesses within those tiers, according to Bawa.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of millions of acres of land in the United States have been taken off the table for housing through land set-asides, Kafkaesque permitting regimes, and the constant threat of litigation.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
Specifically, his plan calls for a $78 million set-aside to address potential Tier 2 compliance costs.
—Derek Douglas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Several rooms in their own set-aside section of the larger facility are designated as an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and are equipped with special seizure-monitoring equipment.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
For investors from countries with EB-5 visa backlogs, such as China and India, set-aside EB-5 visas significantly help avoid long delays.
—Sam Silverman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
The credit rating agency believes Brightline will be able to cover an interest payment due in July only by exhausting the money set-aside to make those payments, unless business and train fares pick up more than expected before then.
—Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Designed to help eligible firms overcome early barriers to government procurement, the program provides access to set-aside and sole-source contracts alongside business development support, with the goal of helping companies build capacity and eventually compete without preference.
—Natalie Madeira Cofield, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The city could then use subcontracting goals or set-asides for certain small contracts to target businesses within those tiers, according to Bawa.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of millions of acres of land in the United States have been taken off the table for housing through land set-asides, Kafkaesque permitting regimes, and the constant threat of litigation.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
Specifically, his plan calls for a $78 million set-aside to address potential Tier 2 compliance costs.
—Derek Douglas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Several rooms in their own set-aside section of the larger facility are designated as an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and are equipped with special seizure-monitoring equipment.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
For investors from countries with EB-5 visa backlogs, such as China and India, set-aside EB-5 visas significantly help avoid long delays.
—Sam Silverman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set-aside
Noun
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Wang won election to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 with assistance from Sun, who at the time, was her fiance and campaign consultant.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Many brands agreed, however, that financing must be paired with technical assistance, diagnostics, and capacity building, along with strong governance and grievance mechanisms to ensure transparency.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These grants can cover cleanups and sustainable cultivation projects, or even related efforts such as fish conservation.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
An organization working to prevent HIV infections is among the Colorado recipients that will lose federal funding after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly canceled grants to four states led by Democratic governors.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The community’s prolific turnout at sporting events in the region is well known, with basketball games in Qatar sometimes limiting allocations for Filipino fans to avoid home advantage from being lost.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Pet Parent collects and organizes intake, capacity, and outcome information to inform planning and resource allocation.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on extending the subsidies, which failed.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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As with the subsidies, public outcry pushed a number of Republicans and Democrats to pledge to do something — in this case, reining in enforcement tactics.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Last year, Republicans passed legislation to reduce spending on federal health programs and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on people receiving aid and by shifting certain costs onto the states.—
ALI SWENSON,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The two work in tandem to enhance meal satisfaction, aid in weight management and support general health.—
Virginia Willis,
AJC.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If the Danish block grant diminishes, Greenlanders may need to regard the American offer as the sole viable economic safety net.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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As a result, states were cut off from almost $2 billion in block grants, including $350 million in addiction and overdose funding.—
Charles LeBaron,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Her choice highlights the age-old question of whether lottery winners should take the lump sum or an annuity, and how even to make that decision.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While the bill doesn't include a dollar amount, DeLano said the plan is to request $50 million in appropriations later in the session.—
ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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With a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fast approaching, all but one Democratic Senator voted against advancing an appropriations bill to fund the department.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set-aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set-aside. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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