set down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “set down” mean?
To place something onto a surface, often deliberately.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To place something onto a surface, often deliberately.
To officially establish or record in writing; to land an aircraft; to attribute or explain; to stop and allow passengers to alight (transport).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In transport contexts, 'set down' is standard in UK English (The bus will set you down near the station). In US English, 'drop off' or 'let off' are more common for passengers.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'set down' for rules/laws has a formal, official connotation. The physical sense is neutral.
Frequency
More frequent in written, especially formal, contexts in both varieties. The passenger transport sense is more frequent in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “set down” in a Sentence
[NP] set down [NP] (on [NP])[NP] be set down (by [NP])[NP] set down that-clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “set down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The coach will set you down right outside the museum.
- The committee set down stringent new guidelines for data protection.
American English
- She set down her keys on the hall table.
- The judge set down a precedent with that ruling.
adjective
British English
- The set-down area for the helicopter was clearly marked.
- Follow the set-down procedure as written.
American English
- The set-down time for the delivery is between 2 and 4 PM.
- We have a set-down rule about mobile phone use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for establishing formal policies or terms in contracts.
Academic
Used to describe the act of recording hypotheses, principles, or methodologies.
Everyday
Most commonly used for physically placing objects or for bus/train stops.
Technical
In aviation, to land; in law, to formally record a judgment or rule.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “set down”
- *I set down to study. (Confusion with 'settle down').
- *The plane was set down on the ocean. (Use 'landed' for normal operation; 'set down' implies a controlled, often planned, landing).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'She set the book down' or 'She set down the book'.
'Write down' is the general act of writing something to remember it. 'Set down' implies a more formal, official, or deliberate act of recording, often for authority or permanence.
Not directly. However, 'to be set down' can sometimes mean to be disparaged or humiliated in older or literary usage (e.g., 'He felt set down by her remarks'), but this is now rare.
It depends on the sense. The physical act (set down a cup) is neutral. The meanings related to establishing rules, recording thoughts, or official transport stops are more formal.
To place something onto a surface, often deliberately.
Set down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌset ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛt ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Set it down in black and white.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a judge SETting a heavy law book DOWN on the bench – establishing a rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (we 'set down' thoughts), RULES ARE PHYSICAL ENTITIES (we 'set down' laws).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'set down' LEAST appropriate?