set back
B1-B2Neutral to formal; common in spoken and written contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to cause a delay or hinder progress; to cost someone a specified amount of money.
To physically position something away from a boundary or edge; to cause a temporary reversal in development or plans.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Two primary senses: 1) to delay/hinder (figurative, most common). 2) to position away from (literal, often architectural). The cost sense is informal but widely used. Often implies an external, unexpected cause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The literal 'position away from' sense (e.g., 'The house is set back from the road') is slightly more frequent in UK property descriptions. The informal 'cost' sense is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral to negative when meaning 'to delay/hinder'. Neutral when describing positioning or cost.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties. The phrasal verb is more common than the noun 'setback'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[something] set [someone/something] back[something] set [someone/something] back [amount of time/money]be set back (by [something])be set back [prepositional phrase e.g., from the road]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “set you back a pretty penny (informal: cost a lot)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common for project delays and budget overruns. 'The supply chain issues set back our Q4 launch by three months.'
Academic
Used in research contexts. 'The failed experiment set back the study by several weeks.'
Everyday
Most common for minor delays or costs. 'The car repair set me back £500.' 'The rain set back our picnic plans.'
Technical
In architecture/planning for building placement. 'Regulations require the building to be set back ten metres from the pavement.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bad weather has set back the building work by a fortnight.
- That new coat must have set her back a few hundred quid.
- The cottages are nicely set back from the lane.
American English
- The lawsuit set back the company's expansion plans.
- Dinner at that restaurant will set you back at least $100.
- The mansion is set back from the road behind a gate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The train strike set back our journey.
- The toy set him back £20.
- Technical problems have set the project back by several weeks.
- Buying a new phone set me back quite a bit.
- The economic crisis set back the country's development by a decade.
- The villa is set back from the cliff edge, ensuring privacy.
- The discovery of the archaeological site temporarily set back construction of the new highway.
- Her illness set back her athletic training significantly, requiring a complete reassessment of her goals.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine setting an alarm clock BACK to a later time—this delays the alarm. Or, setting a vase BACK on a shelf away from the edge.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION (so a setback is a push backward). TIME IS MONEY (so a setback can be a financial cost).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from "ставить назад". It's unnatural for the delay/cost meaning. Use "задерживать/затормозить" (delay) or "обходиться в" (cost). The literal positioning sense can sometimes align with "отодвинуть/расположить в глубине".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'setback' (noun) when the verb phrase 'set back' is needed. Incorrect: *'It was a big set back.' Correct: 'It was a big setback.' or 'It set us back badly.' Confusing 'set back' with 'put back' (UK) or 'push back' (reschedule).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'set back' used to mean 'to cost'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Set back' implies a more significant, often external, cause leading to a reversal or longer delay. 'Delay' is more general and neutral.
Rarely. It almost always has a negative or neutral connotation. A positive 'delay' would use words like 'pause', 'respite', or 'defer'.
No. 'Setback' is a noun meaning 'a problem that delays or hinders progress'. 'Set back' is a phrasal verb. You 'set back' a project, and as a result, you experience a 'setback'.
Commonly used. Structure: 'Be + set back + (by [agent]) + (amount)'. E.g., 'The launch was set back by software bugs.' 'We were set back three months.'