sets 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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Relevance
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as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

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5
as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
Spain’s Own Emmy-Style Awards on the Horizon The launch of the Círculo de Profesionales de las Series Españolas (CPSE), backed by Womack Group, sets the stage for the new Premios Anillos de Oro. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025 Here's a look at when the sun rises and sets throughout Tennessee's major cities, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025 The Centers for Disease Control sets vaccine schedules. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025 In this week's PEOPLE cover story, Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, sets the record straight on the conspiracies that the King of Rock 'n' Roll is still alive and faked his death at age 42 in 1977, in order to escape fame. Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025 But what sets this place apart from similar restaurants is that each dinner entree comes with a cup of corn chowder, corn fritters, a side salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a dessert. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025 His decision to run sets him up for a rematch against Carollo. Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025 What sets Han apart in an increasingly crowded landscape of young designers is her commitment to intellectual rigor and emotional authenticity. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 This sets you up for a better interaction. Vanessa Van Edwards, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
There, dusty fields double as Western movie sets as 12-year-old Bianca blurs gender lines by dreaming of becoming a stunt rider. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025 Below, shop sets inspired by Longoria’s no-brainer outfit formula starting at $40. Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025 Family-friendly Offerings Kids are gifted soft toys, coloring sets, and other small surprises. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025 Dance the night away at Point Arc's Point-Fest Formerly known as Boots n' Brews, this event features a lineup of seven artists performing multi-genre sets. Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Sep. 2025 Ishika Samant/Getty Images While Thibodeau leaned heavily on two-time All-NBA Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson to bail the team out with clutch buckets late in shot clocks, Brown is expected to employ a bit more variety in his offensive sets. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025 In Michigan, both sets of age verification legislation have yet to be taken up in committee, a review of meeting minutes found. Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025 Each game runs at two sets of graphics settings per resolution for up to four runs total on each game. Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 20 Sep. 2025 The Most Important Tip For Removing Coffee Stains Move fast before the stain dries and sets into the fabric, says laundry expert Rick Rome. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • Each individual character spawns their own stan following, fancam edits, out-of-context YouTube compilations, and more.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Army recruitment crisis spawns 'future soldier' course In 2022, as years of shortfall in recruiting numbers compounded into a crisis, the Army test-launched the Future Soldier prep course, a boot camp-style program to quickly pull up recruits who don't meet academic or physical standards.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Chasm is a mockumentary comedy following an overconfident climber who, after losing his best friend and climbing partner to unexpected and unfortunate circumstances, chooses to proceed solo on a historic and potentially fatal rock climb.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
  • But there isn't a grand design to projects Duhamel chooses.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As someone who values her personal space, getting stuck in the middle seat can be too much to bear.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
  • While journeying through the meticulous sign of Virgo — an Earth sign that values practicality and discernment — the love planet isn’t easily swayed by grand gestures.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The company’s market cap sits at about $63 billion.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Identity sits at the heart of digital trust.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Streaming Thursdays on Disney+ and Hulu, the podcast is produced by BBC Studios and aims to deepen fan engagement throughout Season 34.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Kamo‘oalewa is one of the destinations of China’s Tianwen-2 mission launched in May, which aims to collect and return samples from the space rock in 2027.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Harold gets on famously with Duke William, at least until the Norman warlord decides to assert his claim to the English throne.
    Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
  • When her studio head boss asks her to fire her head writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) to appease a toxic male movie star, Vance decides to walk away, and does it in on air.
    Megan Thomas, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The extra-large, rectangular shape offers enough space for long lengths and fluffy curls, while the strong, extra-long teeth form a lock that secures every last strand.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Having friends secures Israel’s place in the region and the world, as the remarkable coordinated response to Iranian missile barrages should’ve made clear.
    Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Spracklin's call puts him in the majority among analysts covering the stock.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • What really puts City Limits at the front of the pack, though, are the Saturday spareribs, which are cooked directly over a bed of hardwood coals and seasoned with nothing but salt.
    Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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