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
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
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
In the remote Liangshan Mountains, 14-year-old Qihuo and her friends set out to find a skirt for her rite of passage.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Why would a country set out to build a capital city from scratch when one—Rio de Janeiro—already existed?
—Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026
The agency did not set out a definitive timeline for when the release — the largest ever by IEA nations — would begin.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set out
Verb
High voter turnout marked Boca Raton’s latest election as thousands of residents set out to halt a controversial redevelopment plan and overhaul the current council.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
In the remote Liangshan Mountains, 14-year-old Qihuo and her friends set out to find a skirt for her rite of passage.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Why would a country set out to build a capital city from scratch when one—Rio de Janeiro—already existed?
—Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026
The agency did not set out a definitive timeline for when the release — the largest ever by IEA nations — would begin.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set out
Verb
-
Running through Reiner's pantheon of successful films, Crystal described a vibrant artist and passionate activist whose wit and comedy delighted audiences for decades.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Foundation unveiled the Phantom Mk-I in October 2025, describing it as a humanoid robot designed specifically for military use.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The colorful and sophisticated accommodations emphasize comfort via squishy couches and plush bedding, and clever layouts make smart use of the space in rooms and suites alike.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Sole said the team tries to make good matches between players and host families, using a questionnaire that lists the home’s layout, makeup of the family and if there are pets.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Orbán, who is trailing in opinion polls ahead of elections next month, has leaned heavily on an election campaign that portrays Zelenskyy as an existential threat to Hungary.—
LORNE COOK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Israeli leaders have portrayed the violence as the work of a tiny minority, but Palestinians and human rights groups say the Israeli army has done little to prevent the attacks and note that settlers are rarely held accountable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In other words, the sun may not have arrived in a life-friendly environment purely by chance, but rather as a consequence of the formation of the galactic bar.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Space.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In another set of images by photographer Ian Recchio, who goes by @Lookunderocks on Instagram, another aircraft, described as a business-jet-type platform, was seen flying below the refueling formation.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One passage depicts the Bonnie-and-Clyde-like notoriety of Frank and the Bride, leading ordinary women to adopt her wild hairdo and goth makeup (including what are evidently meant to be burns on her mouth and tongue from all that electricity).—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The inlay murals are particularly noteworthy, evoking chinoiserie without actually depicting anything too Orientalist.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After the field is narrowed down to the top 16 vote-getters, the competition switches into the format used in the NCAA basketball tournaments.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Configured as a 10-episode run at 45 minutes per episode, the project is the first in a wave of international remakes Nippon TV has lined up for the format.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20out. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
