set 1 of 3

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as in to sit
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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as in to lounge
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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set

2 of 3

noun

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as in faction
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

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as in scenery
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

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set

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adjective

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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
Verb
On the fifth day of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Philharmonie canceled two concerts of Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, directed by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev set for April of that year. Philippe Cordier, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025 Much of that extra time was spent setting the stage for the next performance, but there was plenty to keep guests entertained between takes. Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
But the set does appear on pace to debut in the top 10 — which would mark Florence + The Machine’s fifth consecutive album to reach the region — and could also have a shot at the outfit’s first top five album since 2018’s High as Hope. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025 Also among those supporting the challengers are a large group of national security experts from previous Republican and Democratic administrations and a similarly diverse set of 44 economists on both the left and right, including four Nobel prize winners. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The perforated brogue detailing gave the set extra flair, while not one, but two metal buckles embellished the set. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025 The members would have to live within a set geographic area in and around Independence and would serve staggered three-year terms, so only a few seats would ever turn over at the same time. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for set
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set
Verb
  • Middle managers sit at the heart of AI adoption.
    Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
  • More than that, Rini is an entry point to beauty for the children who sit and watch and wonder what that cream or mask is that their mom is putting on her face.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Last week, four Republic of Ireland internationals playing in the Women’s Super League in England, Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace) and Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), chose not to have the poppy on their team shirts.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The Dolphins chose not to spend the money (or match or surpass other teams’ offers) on several solid contributors after their rookie contracts ended.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Waldabhang in Unterach am Attersee (Forest Slope in Unterach on the Attersee), meanwhile, is estimated to rake in more than $70 million.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • While Democratic leadership aims to carry this momentum into the next slew of big elections in 2026, the road to Democratic control faces several obstacles.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Multiple measures on the ballot on Tuesday, however, aim to speed things up and reduce the council’s power over certain kinds of development.
    Connor Greene, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Last year, the new group of commissioners decided to bring back Nadine Jarmon as the housing authority's executive director.
    Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025
  • El Dorado County voters also decided three Zone of Benefit tax measures on Tuesday.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • England play their last two World Cup qualifiers over the next eight days, against Serbia and Albania, but have already secured their place at the finals and preparations are underway for the tournament.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The collaboration aligns with Japan’s broader strategy to secure a domestic EV battery supply chain and reduce dependence on China and South Korea.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Applying too late leaves plants vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • These cuts mean reducing supply budgets in most departments, delaying the purchase of new math curriculum and Chromebooks, freezing hiring for nonclassroom positions and canceling contract agreements that will not disrupt operations.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Johnson’s 55-yard TD run in the third quarter put MidAmerica Nazarene up 31-0.
    The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Younger consumers are, as Veblen might put it, performing taste with efficiency.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Set.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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