# set back

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/set-back
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to delay the progress of something or someone, making it take longer to finish a task.

For teachers: to delay or impede the progress of a process, project, or person. Transitive and often used to quantify the duration of a delay.

## Examples

- Heavy rain often sets back our construction work.
- A series of technical glitches set back the product launch, forcing the company to reschedule the event for next month.
- While the loss of the primary investor set back the development phase significantly, the startup managed to secure alternative funding within the quarter.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The error set back it." but "The error set it back." — If the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'us', it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- The phrase is separable, meaning the object can go between 'set' and 'back' or after the whole phrase.
- Teaching tip: Distinguish between the phrasal verb and the noun 'setback', which refers to the obstacle itself rather than the act of delaying.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.