set down

verb

set down; setting down; sets down

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sit down : seat

2

: to place at rest on a surface or on the ground

3

: to suspend (a jockey) from racing

4

: to cause or allow to get off a vehicle : deliver

5

: to land (an airplane) on the ground or water

6

a

: ordain, establish

b

: to put in writing

7

a

: regard, consider

set him down as a liar

b

: attribute

Synonyms

• seat
• sit

Examples of set down in a Sentence

set the toddler down in her seat

set down the names of those in attendance

Recent Examples on the Web

However, according to local business owners and employees who previously spoke with Fox News Digital, that temporary barrier was set down instead of up, allowing vehicles to pass on the holiday. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025

Without setting down explicit conditions for the US to stay in NATO, Vance criticized an imbalance in member countries’ commitments and singled out Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and a frequent target of Trump’s pressure during his presidency. —Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2024

Megan Mojica and Kamila Reynolds, both Madison area school bus drivers, visited the site Tuesday morning, set down some candles, and prayed with a chaplain. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

The chopper swoops through the clear blue sky along the East River and sets down on the helipad. —Rob Stein, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

set down

verb

1

: to cause to sit down : seat

2

: to place at rest on a surface or on the ground

3

: to land (an airplane) on the ground or water

4

: establish sense 2

the government set down laws

5

: to put in writing