# set /ˈsɛt/ (US) · /sˈɛt/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/set Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. to put in place verb · CEFR A2 to place something in a particular position. For teachers: to place or position an object in a specific location or orientation. Transitive; requires a direct object. - She set the boxes on the floor and started unpacking them. - She set the heavy crates down with deliberate care, knowing one careless drop would shatter the antique porcelain inside. ### 2. to schedule a time verb · CEFR A2 to fix a date, time, or limit. For teachers: to establish or appoint a specific time, date, or boundary for an event or task. - They set the meeting for Friday morning so everyone had notice. - The committee set the deadline for early November, choosing a date that would force the contractor to deliver before winter weather arrived. ### 3. to become solid verb · CEFR B1 to become firm or solid, like jelly or concrete. For teachers: to change from a liquid or soft state to a solid or rigid state through chemical or physical cooling. Intransitive in this sense. - The dessert needs two hours in the fridge to set properly. - The quick-drying cement began to set within minutes, leaving the workers very little time to smooth the surface of the new driveway. ### 4. sun going down verb · CEFR A2 when the sun or moon disappears below the horizon. For teachers: of a celestial body: to disappear below the horizon as the earth rotates. - We sat on the beach and watched the sun set over the ocean. - As the sun set behind the jagged peaks, the temperature in the valley dropped with surprising speed. ### 5. a group of items noun · CEFR A2 a collection of matching things that belong together. For teachers: a group of related or matching items considered as a single unit or collection. - A set of keys lay on the desk by the door. - The museum displayed an exquisite set of Georgian silverware, each piece engraved with the family crest of the original owners. ### 6. film or stage noun · CEFR B1 the place where a film or play is recorded. For teachers: the physical environment, scenery, and props constructed for a film, television programme, or theatrical production. - The actors arrived on set at dawn for the first scene. - On set, the director paced anxiously while lighting technicians repositioned the rig that had been miscalibrated overnight. ### 7. mathematical collection noun · CEFR B2 · Technical a collection of numbers or objects in math. For teachers: a collection of distinct objects, considered as an object in its own right. - In this math problem, we need to find the union of two sets. - The professor explained that a set containing all prime numbers is infinite, yet it is a subset of the set of all integers. ### 8. sports/exercise noun · CEFR B1 a part of a match or a group of exercises. For teachers: a division of a match in sports like tennis, or a group of repetitions in weightlifting. - He won the first set of the tennis match six-four. - After completing three sets of ten repetitions, the athlete moved on to the cardiovascular portion of the training session. ### 9. ability group noun · CEFR B2 · British English a school class where students have similar skills. For teachers: a group of pupils of similar ability in a particular subject who are taught together. Primarily used in the UK education system. - She was pleased to be placed in the top set for mathematics. - The school decided to move away from rigid sets in favour of mixed-ability teaching for the younger year groups. ### 10. ready adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal prepared and in position to start. For teachers: fully prepared and in a state of readiness. Often used in the phrase 'all set'. - Are you all set for your trip tomorrow? - With the proposal finalised and the supporting evidence collated, the negotiating team felt set to enter the morning session with confidence. ### 11. fixed or unchangeable adjective · CEFR B1 fixed and not likely to change. For teachers: fixed, established, or prearranged; often used to describe opinions or menus. - The restaurant offers a set menu for a fixed price. - He is very set in his ways and rarely agrees to try new technology or different methods of working. ## Examples - This is a complete set of tools. - The starter tool set includes a hammer, a screwdriver, and a wrench. - The film's visual language relies on a recurring set of symbols that foreshadow the protagonist's fate. --- 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.