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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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
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
Wu has a budget of $4.8 billion, surely there’s a set-aside for snow clearance.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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
Loeffler said the firms collectively received nearly $1.3 billion in 8(a) set-aside and sole-source federal contracts from fiscal 2021 through 2024, with nearly $1 billion awarded through sole-source contracts.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
Wu has a budget of $4.8 billion, surely there’s a set-aside for snow clearance.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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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English said he's been working to gather assistance for his members who have gone without a paycheck since mid-February.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s policies — from legislation that cut food stamps and Medicaid benefits, to new restrictions on low-income housing assistance and student loans — have amplified these trends.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The project was funded through a transportation grant and cost more than double the previous, even after being adjusted for inflation.—
Johane Saintil,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The remaining tax and fee receipts, federal grants and other revenues flow into the budget, where additional spending controls typically force hundreds of millions in additional savings each year.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Remaining funds will come from existing Gary community development and animal shelter allocations, according to Post-Tribune archives.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) manages global spectrum allocation, helping prevent interference and maintain reliable operation across communications networks.—
Tessa McCann,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It was denied state subsidies, records show.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Tinubu can’t control the war but, in the minds of voters, surging fuel prices are inextricably linked to his signature policy — scrapping Nigeria’s fuel subsidy system.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The new bureau, which will handle only disaster and emergency aid, is part of a larger office that oversees all foreign assistance.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
First responders immediately began providing aid to the injured man, who had accidentally shot himself in the hand while unloading his firearm at the conclusion of a shooting session, officials said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 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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The waiver, in an unprecedented move, consolidated funding from four different programs to create a block grant.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Life insurers pay out more than $10 billion annually in life insurance and annuity benefits to Illinois families.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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That winner can choose between annuity payments spread over 30 years or a one‑time lump sum of about $118 million.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Donations to the government are accepted into the Treasury Department – which holds the government's cash – and then disbursed based on congressional appropriations – rules set by Congress about how they can be distributed – just like other federal funds.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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Schumer introduced a bill to solely fund TSA, suspending Senate rules and advancing it through the Rules Committee, which doesn’t handle appropriations legislation.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set-aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set-aside. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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