# set out

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/set-out
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to start a journey

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to leave a place and begin a journey.

For teachers: to depart or leave a location in order to begin a journey. Intransitive in this sense.

- We set out at dawn to reach the mountain top before the heat of the day.
- The explorers set out from the coastal base camp, fully aware that they would not see another human settlement for several months.

### 2. to start a task with a goal

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to start an activity or a project with a specific aim or plan.

For teachers: to begin an undertaking with a specific objective or intention. Often followed by an infinitive clause.

- She set out to break the world record for the marathon.
- The researchers set out to prove that the new drug was more effective than existing treatments, despite the initial lack of funding.

### 3. to explain clearly

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to give details or explain something clearly, usually in writing.

For teachers: to present, arrange, or describe a set of facts or arguments in a clear and organized way. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- The report sets out the main reasons for the company's recent success.
- In the opening chapter, the author sets out the theoretical framework that will be used to analyze the historical data.

### 4. to arrange or display

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to arrange things so they can be seen or used.

For teachers: to display or arrange items in a particular order or position. Transitive; common in British English for physical arrangements.

- The market traders set out their stalls early on Saturday morning.
- The curator carefully set out the artifacts in the glass cases to ensure the narrative of the exhibition was easy to follow.

## Examples

- They set out at dawn to reach the mountain peak.
- The young entrepreneur set out to change the way people buy groceries online.
- The explorers set out across the frozen tundra, fully aware that their supplies might not last the duration of the expedition.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: distinguish between the literal sense of starting a trip and the figurative sense of intending to achieve a result; the latter is common in academic and professional writing.

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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.