# set in

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

When something unpleasant starts and looks like it will stay for a while. You use this for things like bad weather, sickness, or a bad mood.

For teachers: To begin and persist, typically used of something unpleasant or undesirable. The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Examples

- The rain set in just as we started our walk.
- After the initial excitement of the move wore off, a deep sense of homesickness began to set in.
- As the harsh winter set in, the remote mountain villages were completely cut off from the rest of the province for several months.

## Pitfalls

- Not "A feeling of great happiness set in." but "A feeling of great happiness began." — 'Set in' is used for unpleasant things; for positive feelings, use 'began' or 'spread'.

## Usage notes

- This verb is intransitive and usually follows subjects like 'winter', 'infection', or 'panic'.
- Teaching tip: Highlight that this phrasal verb is almost always used for negative or unwelcome situations to help students with its specific connotation.

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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.