Phrase guide

set in stone

adj · verb · 3 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

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Permanent; certain; firm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The decision won't be set in stone until we release the documents.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carved in stone, written in stone

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To render something permanent, certain, or firm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • The plan looks good, but don't set it in stone until we have discussed it a bit more.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

no longer changeable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the agreement is not yet set in stone

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carved in stone

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: dat i beneït — permanent
  • Chinese Mandarin: 一成不變 /一成不变 (yīchéngbùbiàn) — permanent
  • Dutch: in steen gebeiteld — permanent
  • Estonian: kivisse raiutud — permanent
  • Finnish: kiveen kirjoitettu — permanent
  • French: gravé dans le marbre — permanent
  • German: in Stein gemeißelt — permanent
  • Hungarian: kőbe vésve — permanent
  • Romanian: bătut în cuie — permanent
  • Swedish: skrivet i stenet — permanent
  • Urdu: پتھر میں لکیر ... (patthar mē̃ lakīr ...) — permanent
  • Chinese Mandarin: 一成不变 (yīchéngbùbiàn) — to make permanent
  • Dutch: in steen beitelen — to make permanent
  • French: graver dans le marbre — to make permanent
  • Hungarian: kőbe vés — to make permanent
  • Japanese: 固定する — to make permanent
  • Japanese: 石に置く — to make permanent
  • Japanese: 石に設定する — to make permanent
  • Romanian: bate în cuie — to make permanent
  • Russian: увековечить в камне (uvekovečitʹ v kamne) — to make permanent