SET OUT Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

set out 1 of 2

verb

Definition of set out

as in to describe

to give a representation or account of in words in his inaugural address, the president set out his vision for the nation over the next four years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

setout

2 of 2

noun

ˈset-ˌau̇t

as in layout

the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized the setout of the stations at the polling place was a little confusing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of set out

Verb

Meanwhile, in a nearby forest a group of local hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), set out to track the beast themselves. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 9 July 2026 That’s what the task force set out to do, and their findings, released in an official report Thursday, put meat on the bones of this pernicious problem. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Breed Starts California Coast Swim Two days before Pfendler completed her historic row, Catherine Breed set out to be the first person to swim the entire California coastline. — Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Researchers from The University of Sydney set out to investigate if there was a link between chronic pain relief and melatonin use. — New Atlas, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for set out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for set out

Verb

Besides Miami, the trial — which Nelson describes as the first of its kind in the nation — will also be conducted at several other academic health centers in the country, as well as in Israel.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
People who knew Salgado Araujo described him as dependable and kind, according to a GoFundMe for his family.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of describe

Noun

Buyers will be able to tailor the interior with exclusive leather, Alcantara, and a choice of Comfort or Racing seats, both featuring six vertical grooves as a subtle nod to the six-speed layout.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 July 2026
Likewise, the layout of the rooms could change and because the AI would generate the video separately from the audio, the lips would need to be manually matched, frame by frame, to the pre-recorded voice tracks.

— Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of layout

Verb

Interpreting the story as theater, said actor Manos Pintzis, who portrayed Odysseus in the local production, helps children discover mythology in a way books alone cannot.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
The character portrayed by the star of The Devil Wears Prada is the wife of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, who spends ten years fighting in the Trojan War and another ten trying to return home.

— Alessia Ferri, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Definition of portray

Noun

Military planners increasingly view active counter-drone systems as essential for protecting armored formations near the front lines.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
In school, students are placed in close, sustained proximity with peers for years, and the conditions for friendship formation are essentially engineered.

— Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of formation

Verb

Dalí included references to major events in Western history; for example, the Ten of Swords card depicts the stabbing of Julius Caesar, while the Queen of Cups is a jokey vandalism of François Clouet’s portrait Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
The discovery of the painting, depicting the interior of Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and likely by Dutch Golden Age painter Hendrick van der Burgh, has an unusual history, according to De Telegraaf, which first reported the news.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026

Definition of depict

Noun

Across formats including mat, reformer and hybrid, the benefits include improved posture and pain relief.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Instead of chasing ultra-light minimalism, it is built around a thicker, more heavy-duty format, combined with a bold futuristic design language.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026

Definition of format

Browse Nearby Words

set one's teeth on edge

set out

setout

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Set out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20out. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of set out

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on set out

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes