SET BACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does set back mean? 

• SET BACK (verb)
  The verb SET BACK has 3 senses:

1. hold back to a later time

2. slow down the progress of; hinder

3. cost a certain amount

  Familiarity information: SET BACK used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SET BACK (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hold back to a later time

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

defer; hold over; postpone; prorogue; put off; put over; remit; set back; shelve; table

Context example:

let's postpone the exam

Hypernyms (to "set back" is one way to...):

delay (act later than planned, scheduled, or required)

"Set back" entails doing...:

reschedule (assign a new time and place for an event)

call off; cancel; scratch; scrub (postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "set back"):

call (stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather)

hold (stop dealing with)

suspend (render temporarily ineffective)

probate (put a convicted person on probation by suspending his sentence)

reprieve; respite (postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Slow down the progress of; hinder

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

His late start set him back

Hypernyms (to "set back" is one way to...):

hinder; impede (be a hindrance or obstacle to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

setback (an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cost a certain amount

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

knock back; put back; set back

Context example:

My daughter's wedding set me back $20,000

Hypernyms (to "set back" is one way to...):

be; cost (be priced at)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

"Ah, childer!" said she, "it fair troubles me to go into yond' room now: it looks so lonesome wi' the chair empty and set back in a corner."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I rose and bowed, and he came towards me; a man of medium weight, strongly built, with his shoulders set back over a broad, deep chest and a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)