set out
(transitive) To explain something, or give exact details, usually in writing.
Seen in the wild
I truly am the world's slowest packer. Anyweas, that was basically my whole day. That and messing about with an electric razor. Tomorrow I set out for Atlanta, yaaay. Today's Boot Pair: No. 33.
You gotta set out a can of Irn Bru and some Haggis on a plate as an offering to her on the shore.
Tomorrow's English locals will get read Friday morning as either structural fragmentation of Labour's 2024 coalition or a uniform anti-incumbent punishment vote. Three falsifiable tests, set out in advance to distingu…
Never seen essential criteria like this on a job before, and frankly I don't know if it is really justified from what they set out, but it's a theology job and I'm sure human resources will have had a field day figuri…
Ah, spring! I can’t wait to set out flowers. Nothing in the world beats a nice cold drink on a hot day, surrounded by hanging plants and a good book.
Definitions
(transitive) To explain something, or give exact details, usually in writing.
This contract sets out all the terms of the agreement as we discussed.
Comments
(intransitive) To go out, leave.
Tomorrow we set out for America.
“Ah, spring! I can’t wait to set out flowers. Nothing in the world beats a nice cold drink on a hot day, surrounded by hanging plants and a good book.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“"The Church’s mission is not a matter of abstractly proclaiming and deductively applying principles that are set out in an immutable and rigid manner, but of fostering a living encounter with the person of the risen Lord Jesus;" the study group quotes Augustine:”
— Bluesky· May 2026“in this world... there are no such things as demons. or even heroes, really... there WAS a girl eager to set out, to fulfill some sort of destiny. that part was true. she met someone. another girl.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Hi Elijah, America peaked in 1973, with the Roe v Wade decision. After that, the "new right" set out to ruin what made America great.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Until the last couple of weeks, the Greens have had essentially uncritical platforming from the media. Neither of the examples have set out how their vision of an immigration system in any detail. It’s easy for small opposition parties to claim they’d make everything better.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
(intransitive) To start an activity with the intention of finishing it.
He set out with the aim of writing the book in less than 3 months.
"set out" means: To start an activity with the intention of finishing it.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"set out" means: To start an activity with the intention of finishing it.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
“I truly am the world's slowest packer. Anyweas, that was basically my whole day. That and messing about with an electric razor. Tomorrow I set out for Atlanta, yaaay. Today's Boot Pair: No. 33.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“You gotta set out a can of Irn Bru and some Haggis on a plate as an offering to her on the shore.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Tomorrow's English locals will get read Friday morning as either structural fragmentation of Labour's 2024 coalition or a uniform anti-incumbent punishment vote. Three falsifiable tests, set out in advance to distinguish them, lets see if I am right! pgw.report/english-loca...”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Never seen essential criteria like this on a job before, and frankly I don't know if it is really justified from what they set out, but it's a theology job and I'm sure human resources will have had a field day figuring it out.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Ahead of the local elections on 7 May, we invited representatives from political parties to set out why they are asking for your vote - here are the replies ... see 🧵 First LibDem”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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