as in describes
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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Recent Examples of sets out
The story opens in the 1960s, during a long communication gap, as a group of MIT graduate students sets out to solve a proof that stumped the greatest minds of the previous generation (including Albert Einstein).
—
Alexandra Oliva, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
In Hunting Matthew Nichols, two decades after her brother and his friend mysteriously disappeared, Tara Nichols, a documentary filmmaker, sets out to solve their missing persons case.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Oppressed by his new friends’ good cheer, Sam sets out to ignore them until a brush with the paranormal forces his hand.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The first is a story about the dream of a city that sets out to erect a single building as high as the heavens.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 May 2026
So the team sets out to find a portrait of Nancy wearing the locket — prompting a sudden trip to London.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton After an astronaut is presumed dead when his spacecraft vanishes in 1968, his grieving wife refuses to accept the official explanation and sets out to uncover the truth.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Host Rachel Holt sets out on the water to explore this coastal landscape, including a private clambake experience on a secluded tidal beach.
—Rachel Holt, CBS News, 17 May 2026
With the help of her talking dog and an adorable lemon named Squirt, Edith sets out to find the last remaining fairy who might be able to break the spell.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Alexandra Oliva, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
In Hunting Matthew Nichols, two decades after her brother and his friend mysteriously disappeared, Tara Nichols, a documentary filmmaker, sets out to solve their missing persons case.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Oppressed by his new friends’ good cheer, Sam sets out to ignore them until a brush with the paranormal forces his hand.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The first is a story about the dream of a city that sets out to erect a single building as high as the heavens.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 May 2026
So the team sets out to find a portrait of Nancy wearing the locket — prompting a sudden trip to London.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton After an astronaut is presumed dead when his spacecraft vanishes in 1968, his grieving wife refuses to accept the official explanation and sets out to uncover the truth.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Host Rachel Holt sets out on the water to explore this coastal landscape, including a private clambake experience on a secluded tidal beach.
—Rachel Holt, CBS News, 17 May 2026
With the help of her talking dog and an adorable lemon named Squirt, Edith sets out to find the last remaining fairy who might be able to break the spell.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets out
Verb
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What These Treatments Actually Cost At the mass-market end, Restore Hyper Wellness describes itself as the largest direct-to-consumer wellness provider in the country, with more than 200 studios nationwide as of May 2026.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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In this installment, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer describes living in Venice while completing his latest novel Villa Coco.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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One depicts Putin being cradled in the arms of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.—
Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Mitre’s film portrays the birth of a civil resistance movement and the state’s infiltration operation designed to destroy it.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
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Depicting her friendship with the trans actress Candy Darling (a sensitive turn by Stephen Dorff), the story portrays how Solanis came to write her notorious SCUM Manifesto (an acronym for the Society for Cutting Up Men) and the spiral of rejection that led to her desperate act of violence.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sets out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20out. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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