Phrase guide

set aside

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

  • UK: /sɛt.əˈsaɪd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪd

1

verb

Meaning 1

To separate and reserve something for a specific purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Plan to set aside three or four hours to see the museum.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To leave out of account; to omit or neglect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To declare something invalid or null and void.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

make inoperative or stop

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • suspend payments on the loan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: suspend

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

6

verb

Meaning 6

give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I will earmark this money for your research
  • She sets aside time for meditation every day

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: allow, appropriate, earmark, reserve

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: assign, allot, portion

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: varata — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • French: mettre de côté — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • French: réserver — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Italian: accantonare — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Italian: riservare — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Italian: mettere da parte — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Italian: mettere via — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Italian: fare scorta — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Māori: tāpui — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tilsidesette — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Portuguese: separar — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Spanish: provisionar — separate and reserve for a specific purpose
  • Finnish: kieltäytyä — disagree with something
  • Finnish: tyrmätä — disagree with something
  • Finnish: hylätä — disagree with something
  • French: laisser de côté — disagree with something
  • French: écarter — disagree with something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 撤銷 /撤销 (chèxiāo) — declare something invalid
  • Chinese Mandarin: 宣布......無效 /宣布......无效 (xuānbù... wúxiào) — declare something invalid
  • Finnish: kumota — declare something invalid
  • Finnish: mitätöidä — declare something invalid
  • Gallurese: accagnà — declare something invalid
  • Irish: cuir ar ceal — declare something invalid
  • Italian: accantonare — declare something invalid
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tilsidesette — declare something invalid
  • Campidanese Sardinian: arrenconài — declare something invalid