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

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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

Between bouts of leisure, the Alpha Gang, led by Alpha 1 (Léa Seydoux), set out on small battles to kill random troops in the name of taking over Earth. — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 Her follow up, Said the Dead—in which Ní Ghríofa sets out to restore the voices of a handful of women who were confined to a lunatic asylum in Victorian-era Cork—is every bit as eerie, tender, and beautiful. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Burke County Search and Rescue dispatched crews on foot from the Table Rock Picnic Area along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and a second team set out on ATVs and UTVs. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2026 After meeting at a society reception, Henry sets out to marry Henrietta, an endearingly clumsy, overly apologetic botanist with ambitions of discovering a new species of fern. — Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for set out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for set out

Verb

The modern American Dream is best described as a private bunker where the outside world arrives entirely in a cardboard box or a fiber-optic cable.

— John Mac Ghlionn, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
Strahan described the chaos in New York City amid the rescue efforts and the accompanying bomb threats and noted that the Giants could still see smoke from the twin towers from the team’s practice fields.

— Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of describe

Noun

The construction moved the equivalent of about 500 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of earth, part of which was reused to shape Madring’s layout.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Rooms Each of the 154 rooms and 54 suites at Hôtel Plaza Athénée is a bespoke creation—layouts range from opulent, classic 18th-century Parisian grandeur to sleek Art Deco design, including spaces designed by Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of layout

Verb

The AfD also aims to segregate refugees and disabled children in schools and rework the curriculum to portray a more positive view of Germany's history.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
There’s a lot more to Love Love’s not the only one to break hearts and portray himself as a professional athlete.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of portray

Noun

Another option is to tweak the formation and switch to a five-at-the-back shape with wing-backs.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The occasion is SkyAd, a new venture from Heads in the Sky co-founder Kevin Prince that turns formations of illuminated drones into temporary billboards.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of formation

Verb

For the cover of the September 14, 2026, Fall Style & Design Issue, the artist Lennart Gäbel depicted a feeling that every New York City subway rider knows well.

— Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Well, the internet cooked up the idea that the chant originated from late-1800s and early-1900s imagery and stories that depicted Black children being used as bait to catch alligators.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of depict

Noun

That existential change could make Cregger’s preferred format less of a personal choice for other gamers — who may or may not enjoy the same organizational benefits.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Roddick stood by the Grand Slam's late-night session format while conceding that a five-hour match could test viewers’ patience, echoing a concern raised by sports podcaster Bill Simmons.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of format

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set one's teeth on edge

set out

setout

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Style

“Set out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20out. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of set out

verb

noun

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