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SET BACK
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Slow down the progress of; hinder
Example:
His late start set him back
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
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 2
Meaning:
Hold back to a later time
Example:
let's postpone the exam
Synonyms:
defer; hold over; postpone; prorogue; put off; put over; remit; set back; shelve; table
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
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 3
Meaning:
Cost a certain amount
Example:
My daughter's wedding set me back $20,000
Synonyms:
knock back; put back; set back
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "set back" is one way to...):
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
