Phrase guide

set out

verb · 8 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.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsɛt‿aʊt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To explain something, or give exact details, usually in writing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • This contract sets out all the terms of the agreement as we discussed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To go out, leave.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Tomorrow we set out for America.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: set forth

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To start an activity with the intention of finishing it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • He set out with the aim of writing the book in less than 3 months.
  • Many young people set out to change the world.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To position, to put in a position

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To arrange the necessary type into a printing press in preparation to run it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

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 about, 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

7

verb

Meaning 7

lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • lay out the clothes
  • lay out the arguments

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: range, array, lay out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arrange, set up

Narrower terms: compart

8

verb

Meaning 8

leave

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The family took off for Florida

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: depart, part, start, start out, set forth, set off, take off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leave, go forth, go away

Narrower terms: take off, lift off, roar off, blaze, blaze out, sally forth, sally out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: uitzetten — to explain
  • Dutch: uiteenzetten — to explain
  • Finnish: yksilöidä — to explain
  • Finnish: määritellä — to explain
  • French: expliquer — to explain
  • Galician: dispor — to explain
  • Galician: dispoñer — to explain
  • Italian: illustrare — to explain
  • Italian: esplicare — to explain
  • Portuguese: dispor — to explain
  • Russian: устана́вливать (ustanávlivatʹ) — to explain
  • Bulgarian: напускам (napuskam) — to leave
  • Chichewa: -manga ulendo — to leave
  • Chinese Mandarin: 動身 /动身 (dòngshēn) — to leave
  • Ngazidja Comorian: undjia ho-ndzia-ni — to leave
  • Czech: vydat se — to leave
  • Czech: vypravit se — to leave
  • Dutch: gaan — to leave
  • Dutch: verlaten — to leave
  • Finnish: lähteä matkaan — to leave
  • Finnish: lähteä — to leave
  • French: se mettre en chemin — to leave
  • Galician: partir — to leave
  • German: sich aufmachen — to leave
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽 (galeiþan) — to leave
  • Italian: uscire — to leave
  • Italian: partire — to leave
  • Latin: proficiscor — to leave
  • Māori: whakatika — to leave
  • Māori: whātika — to leave
  • Portuguese: partir — to leave
  • Russian: отправля́ться (otpravljátʹsja) — to leave
  • Russian: отпра́виться (otprávitʹsja) — to leave
  • Telugu: బయలుదేరు (bayaludēru) — to leave
  • Tocharian B: mit- — to leave
  • Bulgarian: отправям се (otpravjam se) — to start an activity
  • Dutch: beginnen — to start an activity
  • Dutch: starten — to start an activity
  • Finnish: ryhtyä — to start an activity
  • Finnish: alkaa — to start an activity
  • Finnish: aloittaa — to start an activity
  • French: commencer — to start an activity
  • Galician: dispor — to start an activity
  • Galician: dispoñer — to start an activity
  • Italian: fissarsi — to start an activity
  • Italian: proporsi — to start an activity
  • Portuguese: dispor — to start an activity
  • Spanish: proponerse — to start an activity