verb
Meaning 1
Used with the adverb sense of about.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
set about
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -aʊt
verb
Meaning 2
Used with the adverb sense of about.
To circulate or spread (news, a rumour, etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: archaic except chiefly Northern England
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
Used with the preposition sense of about.
To plant trees or other vegetation in (a place).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
Used with the preposition sense of about.
To encircle or surround (something) with other things.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
Qualifier: passive voice
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
Used with the preposition sense of about.
To attack (someone); to set upon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, informal, transitive
Examples
- Two youths set about him.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: begin upon
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
Used with the preposition sense of about.
To start doing or to devote oneself to some task; to set upon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
- He set about designing his homepage.
- She set about the task with a will.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: begin upon, undertake, embark on, set to, take in hand
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- We began working at dawn
- Who will start?
- Get working as soon as the sun rises!
- The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
- He began early in the day
- Let's get down to work now
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: get down, begin, get, start out, start, set out, commence
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: recommence, strike out, fall, jump off, get to, auspicate, attack, break in, plunge, launch, come on, embark, enter, get cracking, bestir oneself, get going, get moving, get weaving, get started, get rolling
verb
Meaning 8
enter upon an activity or enterprise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: undertake, attempt
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: initiate, pioneer
verb
Meaning 9
begin to deal with
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- approach a task
- go about a difficult problem
- approach a new project
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: go about, approach
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, move
Narrower terms: confront, face up, face
History
Etymology
From set (verb) + about (adverb, preposition).
Across languages
Translations
29 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Czech: pustit se do — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Dutch: aan de slag schieten — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Dutch: eraan beginnen — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Dutch: op het punt staan te — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Esperanto: klopodi — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Finnish: alkaa — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Finnish: aloittaa — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Finnish: ryhtyä — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- French: entreprendre — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- French: s'attaquer à — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Hungarian: hozzáfog — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Hungarian: nekiáll — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Hungarian: nekilát — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Irish: ionsaigh — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Irish: scaoil faoi — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Italian: cominciare — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Italian: iniziare — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Italian: intraprendere — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Japanese: 着手する (chakushu suru) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Japanese: 始める (hajimeru) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Japanese: 取り掛かる (torikakaru) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Latin: eō — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Romanian: porni — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Romanian: se apuca — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Romanian: se pune — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Russian: приступить к (pristupitʹ k) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Turkish: başlatmak — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Ukrainian: приступа́ти до (prystupàty do) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task
- Ukrainian: приступи́ти до (prystupȳty do) — to start doing or to devote oneself to some task